Psych drugs Flashcards
Function of benzodiazepine
- Anxiolytic
2. Hypnotic agent
Name 3 classes of benzodiazepine
- Short acting: Midazolam
- Intermediate acting: Lorazepam, alprazolam
- Longer acting: Diazepam
MOA of benzodiazepine (BZD)
- bind to CNS BZD sites
- potentiates GABA action on
- GABA dependent binding
- increase frequency chloride channels opening
note GABA is inhibitory neurotransmitter
Route of administration of BZD
- Oral fast onset 30mins-1hr
2. IV: midazolam, lorazepam, diazepam
Adverse effects of BZD (7)
4 CNS + 1 CVS
- Sedation
- Increase drowsiness, reaction time + Decrease motor skill
- Anterograde amnesia (forget after drug– esp in IV)
- Decrease BP & respiration in predisposed pt (eg IHD)
- Paradoxical effect of hallucination/excitement/violence (due to disinhibition by BZD where behaviour normally suppressed)
- Floppy child syndrome: 3rd trimester (pls don’t give ans in elderly)
- Tolerance & dependence, withdrawal
What’s the characteristic of benzodiazepine induced sleep?
Reduced REM & deep stage 4 sleep
compared to natural sleep
Will overdose BZD result in toxicity?
No, GABA dependent
What’s insomnia?
- difficulty falling asleep
- maintaining sleep
- early morning awakening
–> affects next day fn
Causes of insomnia
Internal
- anxiety
- depression
External
- drug induced -caffeine
- drug withdrawal- eg. from alcohol/ sleeping pill
What are the 2 Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics?
Zolpidem, zopiclone
MOA of non BZD hypnotics
Act on BZD sites similar to BZD
Adverse effects of non BZD hypnotics
- withdrawal
2. abuse potential
What’s depression?
- symptoms persist for at least 2 weeks
2. severity of symptoms interfere w normal functioning
What’s depression due to?
deficiency of monoamines (dopamine/serotonin/noradrenaline)
What are the 4 drug classes of Antidepressants?
- SSRI
- TCA (more effect on NA> serotonin): amitriptyline, imipramine
- SNRI
- NaSSa