Pharmacology of Depression

Question 1

Describe the effect of increasing SSRI dose on reduction in depression rating.

Answer 1

As dose increases, improvement slightly increases but then plateaus

Question 2

The plateau in reduction of depression rating indicates?

Answer 2

receptor saturation

Question 3

Describe the effect of increasing SSRI dose on dropouts due to adverse effects.

Answer 3

when improvement plateaus, dropouts due to adverse effects increase exponentially

Question 4

Patient X has trouble sleeping and is hypertensive. Is discontinuing Sertraline due to no improvement. Should mirtazapine or venlafaxine be prescribed?

Answer 4

mirtazapine has less adverse effects and has a sedative effect,

venlafaxine is not chosen because hypertension is a side effect

Question 5

List the receptors Mirtazapine acts on from highest to lowest affinity.

Answer 5

Histamine (H1) > Alpha-2 > 5HT2 > 5HT3