Pharmacology Flashcards
What are the different groups of antidepressants?
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- Seratonin Specific Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- . Atypical (heterocyclic second and third gen) antidepressants
What is the mechanism of action for Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)?
- Inhibit transporters of NE and 5HT
- Inhibit reuptake of NE and 5HT
- Results in potentiation of NT action (adrenergic and serotonergic) and enhancement of post synaptic response
What is the mechanism of action for SSRI’s?
- Inhibit serotonin transporter
- Lead to increased serotonin neurotransmission
- highly selective, reduced side effect profile
What are side effects of SSRI’s?
- Gastrointestinal (nausea and vomiting)
- Sexual dysfunction (decreased libido and ED)
- Headache
- Agitation
- Together with TCAs or MAOIs can get serotonin syndrome
What can cause seratonin syndrome?
Caused by overactivation of sertinergic neurotransmission through interaction of two classes of drugs that can influence seratonin levels:
SSRI
TCA
MAOI
–> should not be prescribed together, wait 2-3 weeks after stopping MAOI to switch to TCA or SSRI
What are symptoms of seratonin syndrome?
Cognitive, autonomic and somatic effects:
Muscle rigidity
myoclonus
hyperthermia
cardiovascular instability
CNS stimulatory effects including confusion, hypomania, hallucinatiosn, seizures
Can be life threatening
What drugs are Tricyclic antidepressants?
Tertiary amines (SERT > NET)
Amitriptyline
Imipramine
Secondary amines (NET > SERT)
Nortryptyline
Desipramine
Others
Clomipramine
Doxepin
Amoxapine
End in -iptyline or -ipramine except doxepin and amoxapine
What drugs are SSRIs?
Fluoxetine
Paroxetine
Sertraline
Fluvoxamine
Citalopram
Excitalopram
What is the mechanism of SNRIs?
Inhibition of serotonin and NE reuptake
(Inhibit SERT and NET)
What drugs are SNRIs?
Venlafaxine
Duloxetine
What is the clinical use of SNRIs?
Depression
generalized anxiety disorder (Venlafaxine)
diabetic peripheral neuropathy (duloxetine)
What are clinical uses of SSRIs?
Major Depression
Bedwetting (imipramine)
OCD (clomipramine)
fibromyalgia
Bulimia
What is Bupropion?
Atypical antidepressant
Acts as a dopamine and NE reuptake inhibitor
Also used to treat:
Nicotine withdrawal
ADHD
Bipolar depression
Side effects:
Dry mouth
nausea
Insomnia
No sexual side effects
What is Trazodone?
Atypical antidepressant
- Primarily inhibits seratonin reuptake
Used to treat:
Depression (high dose)
Insomnia
Side effects:
Orthostatic hypotension
Nausea
Dizziness
Sedation
Priapism (Trazobone)
What is Mirtazapine?
Atypical Antidepressant
- alpha2 antagonist (on presynaptic cells) results in increased release of NE and serotonin
Potent 5HT2 and 5HT3 receptor antagonist (seratonin reuptake inhibitor)
Side effects:
Sedation
Increased appetite
Weight gain
Dry mouth
What is Vilazodone?
Atypical antidepressant
FDA approved in 2011
Mechanism of Action: Combined SSRI and 5HT1A partial agonist
Side effects:
Little sexual dysfunction
Mainly GI related: Nausea, diarrhea
What do TCAs inhibit that SSRIs do not inhibit?
Norepinephrien Reuptake transporter (NET)
What is the mechanism of action for MAOIs?
- Irreversible inhibitors of MAO-A and MAO-B
- MAOs degrade monoamine and catecholamine NTs in brain
- Inhibiting degradation of NTs leads to build up in cytoplasm, and uptake into storage vesicles
- Also results in leakage of NE and 5HT into synaptic cleft
–> Increased monoamine neurotransmission
What are side effects of MAOIs?
Hypertensive crisis with tyramine ingestion (in wine and cheese) and ß-agonists
Sedation or excitation
postural hypotension
Can induce mania in some bipolar patients
Contraindicated with SSRIs or meperidine (to prevent seratonin syndrome)
What are the clinical uses of MAOIs?
atypical depression
(Antidepression of choice for this)
Anxiety
Hypochondriasis
What are the risks of taking antidepressants during pregnancy for SSRIs
- *SSRI:**
- Appear to be “relatively” safe - though always some risk
- Use in 3rd trimester may cause withdrawal symptoms and increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborn
- *Paroxetine:**
- the exception: slight increased risk of heart defects in fetus
What are the risks of not taking antidepressants during pregnancy?
Pre-term labor
low birth weight infants
problems with bonding
What can be used to augment antidepressant efficacy?
- Lithium
- Thyroid hormones
- *Antipshycotics:**
- Aripiprazole
- Olanzapine
- Quetiapine
- *Anti-anxiety:**
- Buspirone