Pharmacology Flashcards
How long of a trial of an SSRI is needed to determine it unsuccessful?
4-6 weeks
What is first-line treatment for acute mania?
Valproic acid
What are the medications of choice for treating persistent depressive disorder (previously known as dysthymia)?
Bupropion and venlafaxine
What mood disorders can prednisone cause?
Depression, mania, and psychosis
What medication is preferred for treating mania caused by sleep deprivation in a bipolar patient?
Benzodiazepines - allows patient to return to normal sleep pattern and abort the manic episode
What antidepressant is preferred for adjunctive therapy to a mood stabilizer in a patient with bipolar depression?
Bupropion
What labs should be monitored in a patient taking lithium?
Lithium levels, thyroid function tests, creatinine, and urinalysis
What is optimal treatment of adolescent depression?
CBT and SSRI
What adjunctive therapies to an antidepressant are useful for treating refractory depression?
Lithium, thyroid hormones, estrogen, light therapy, and stimulants.
What treatment is most effective for MDD with melancholic features?
TCAs have been shown to be more effective than other antidepressants
What antidepressant class is generally most effective in MDD with atypical features?
MAOIs
What medication combination is useful for sedating combative patients?
IM haloperidol and IM lorazepam
What are characteristics of malignant hyperthermia?
May result from the administration of neuromuscular junction blockers (e.g. succinylcholine, halothane, etc.). It results in symptoms of hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, arrhythmias, hypotension, rhabdomyolysis, and DIC. Hypersensitivity to these meds runs in families.
What is neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Caused by use of neuroleptics. Three sets of symptoms appear rapidly: alteration in level of consciousness, autonomic instability (e.g. hyperthermia, tachycardia, labile hypertension, and tachypnea), and “lead pipe” muscle rigidity. Elevated CPK and leukocytosis are common findings secondary to muscle damage.
What is serotonin syndrome?
Can occur with concurrent administration of an SSRI with an MAOI, l-tryptophan, or lithium. Symptoms: diarrhea, restlessness, extreme, agitation, hyperreflexia, autonomic instability, myoclonus, seizures, hyperthermia, uncontrollable shivering, rigidity, delirium, coma, status epilepticus, and death.
How is cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions) treated?
With medications that reduce REM sleep (e.g. antidepressants). Thought to be caused by the intrusion of REM sleep during periods of wakefulness.
What receptors are targeted by atypical antipsychotics?
5-HT6 and D4
What receptor does buspirone target?
5-HT1A