PHARMACOLOGY Flashcards
what drug class is amitriptyline?
a noradrenaline/5HT reuptake inhibitor
what is amitriptyline used for?
major depressive disorder
to aid sleep patterns as its a sedating antidepressant
what is the proposed mechanism of amitriptyline’s action?
It’s metabolite nortriptyline inhibits the membrane pump mechanism responsible for uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in adrenergic and serotonergic neurons. This causes prolonging of neuronal activity, since re-uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin is important in termination of transmitting activity.
what is a down side for amitriptyline?
serious side effects
takes a few weeks for results to show
what drug class is lithium?
a mood stabilising agent
what is lithium used for and why?
bipolar disorder as it counteracts both mania and depression
what is the proposed mechanism of lithiums action?
Li+ can displace K+, Na+ and Ca2+ in several critical neurotransmitter receptors
what drug class is phenelzine?
a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
what is phenelzine used for?
depression
what is phenelzine’s mechanism of action?
to irreversibly inhibit monoamine oxidase and therefore increases the concentration of free amines, most specifically serotonin and norepinephrine.
what’s the differences between MAO A and MAO B?
MAO-A is found in cells in the periphery, whilst MAO-B is found extracellularly and predominately in the brain.
MAO-A catalyses the breakdown of serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and tyramine, whilst MAO-B acts on phenylethylamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and tyramine.
MAO A has antidepressant effects but MAO B doesnt
what drug class is venlafaxine?
a serotonin reuptake inhibitor
what is the proposed mechanism of venlafaxine’s action?
Venlafaxine and its metabolite ODV, inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine re-uptake and weakly inhibit dopamine re-uptake.
what is venlafaxine used to treat?
major depressive disorder
generalised anxiety disorder
panic disorder
what drug class is zoplicone?
a GABA BZ agonist
