Pediatric psychopharmacology - Zelan Flashcards
What does Off label use refer to?
Using a medication that has not received FDA approval for the clinical indication. Ie. using risperdal or seroquel for depression related anxiety and insomnia.
Allelic variation in CYP 2D6 can affect what?
How quickly some drugs are metabolized. Faster metabolizers need higher doses.
Poor metabolizers are at higher risk for what?
Adverse drug effects.
Borderline poor metabolizers may be more susceptible to what?
An inhibitor effect.
Rapid metabolizers are at risk for what?
Treatment failure.
What psych meds are CYP 2D6 substrates?
- TCA’s
- Prozac, luvox, paxil, trazodone, remeron
- effexor/cymbalta
- strattera, stimulants
- many antipsychotics
What psych meds are CYP 2C19 substrates?
- xanax, valium, many TCA’s
- Clozaril
- Methadone
- Perphenazine
- Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Effexor
- Thioridazine
What gene is associated with a more favorable response to SSRI’s?
The ‘long form’ of the Serotonin transporter gene - especially with 2 copies. This is not true with Asians.
There are not many studies showing how psych meds affect kids and they are often treated ‘off label’ with adult meds. What are some concerns?
- the brain continues to develop into early adulthood
- impact of adding psychoactive medications of a developing brain remains unknown
- medications safe for use in adults have had unanticipated side-effects for children
Describe some adult meds that have had unanticipated side-effects for children.
- Tetracycline - dental discoloration
- SSRI’s - suicidality
- Aspirin - Reye’s syndrome
- Cough suppressants - pneumonia
- Antiemetics - dystonic/EPS reactions
What are some things to be considered in selection of medication for children?
Target symptoms Standard of care/ Evidence-based Least risk of serious side effects FDA approval Known previous responses of patient Known previous responses of family members Dosing schedule Clinician preference
Describe how you might monitor the use of medications in children.
- Start low and go slow
- Generally continue raising dose until:
- Satisfactory remission of symptoms
- Reach upper limit of dose
- Side effects that make dosing intolerable
- Plateau in symptoms or worsening with increase in dose - Monitoring of other physical assessments:
Height/weight, P, BP, tics (stimulants)
Liver function, blood count (anticonvulsants)
Fasting blood sugar, lipids, weight, abnormal movements (antipsychotics & mood stabilizers) - monitor for target symptoms
- monitor serums levels if on lithium or anticonvulsants
What are some medication monitoring guidelines?
- During active titration, usually see weekly.
- Children on maintenance medications should be seen by their prescribing clinician no less that once every three months.
- Children in acute settings, displaying unsafe behavior, experiencing significant side-effects, or not responding to a medication trial or in an active phase of a medication trial should be seen more frequently.
List some psych med classifications.
- Anti-depressants
- Mood
- Stabilizers/Anticonvulsants
- Anti-psychotics
Traditional
Second Generation - Anxiolytics
- Sleep Agents/Hypnotics
- Stimulants
Describe some characteristics of antidepressants.
- Common antidepressants - SSRIs, atypical antidepressants, TCA, MAOIs
- SSRI’s are the most widely used anti-depressant in children
- Potential concerns: SI, mania, EKG changes, sleep problems, serotonin syndrome, sexual side effects, weight gain.
Why are SSRI’s prescribed for children and not TCA’s?
- Most studies have shown tricyclic anti-depressants to be ineffective in treating childhood depression.
- There have been several reports of sudden death in children treated with tricyclics.
- Side effects of SSRI’s generally more tolerable than those of tricyclics and MAOI’s.
- SSRI’s may be administered once daily.
- They have the potential to treat a spectrum of childhood disorders (OCD, Tourette’s, anxiety disorders, selective mutism, PTSD, eating disorders).
What are some side effects of SSRI’s?
Gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite)
Headaches
Insomnia or sedation
Serotonin syndrome (nausea, tremor, hyperthermia, rigidity or pain, ALOC, seizure)
Sexual dysfunction (delayed ejaculation, anorgasmia, decreased libido)
Discontinuation syndrome (dizziness, nausea, lethargy, irritability)
Mania
Restlessness (akathisia or agitation)
Miscellaneous side effects: sweating, anxiety, dizziness, tremors, fatigue, dry mouth.
Priapism
List the Atypical antidepressants.
Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zyban (buproprion) Effexor, Effexor XR (venlafaxine) Cymbalta (Duloxetine) Desyrel (trazadone) Remeron (mirtazapine)
What are the side effects of atypical antidepressants?
- Wellbutrin-insomnia, CNS stimulation, headache, constipation, dry mouth, nausea, tremor, seizure (rare)
- Trazodone-sedation, weight gain, hypotension, dry mouth, priapism
- Effexor-hypertension, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, sweating, dizziness, high incidence of discontinuation syndrome
- Remeron-increased appetite, sedation, dry mouth, constipation
List some common mood stabilizers.
- Common mood stabilizers - Lithium,
Depakote (Valproic Acid), Lamotrigine, Tegretol (affects blood count), Trileptal (better tolerated than tegretol but less effective), lamictal (safer in pregnancy), topomax (not used for bipolar, does not cause weight gain) - Alternatives to traditional mood stabilizers - second generation antipsychotics