Psychiatric disease drugs 12.1 and 12.2 Flashcards
Give the 2 main ways CNS drugs work
1) Agonists or Antagonists of NT receptors ➞ compete with NT for binding site, mimic NT or block NT
2) Inhibitors of regulatory enzymes
Give an example for each catagory
Give 3 core symptoms of depression
Show 2 of 3:
- Low mood
- Anhedonia
- Decreased energy
Give 2 secondary symptoms of depression
- decreased appetite
- sleep disturbance
- reduced concentration
- Irritability
- reduced libido
- self harm or suicidal ideas or acts
Brifly explain the Monoamine Hypothesis of depression + a drug treatment and why
Depression due to deficiency of monoamine NTs ➞ NA and serotonin
Certain drugs that depleted these could induce depression e.g. Reserpine
Treatment: MAOIs, block enzyme monoamine oxidase from destroying NTs
Brifly explain the Neurotransmitter Receptor Hypothesis of depression
Abnormality in the receptors for monoamine transmission leads to depletion of NT ➞ causes compensatory up regulation of post synaptic receptors leading to depression
Brifly explain the Monoamine Hypothesis of Gene Expression
Deficiency in molecular functioning ➞ hypothesised problem within the molecular events distal to the receptor
What severity of depression are SSRIs used to treat?
Give 2 examples
Moderate - severe depression (with CBT) ➞ first line medication
- paroxetine most potent reuptake inhibitor
- citalopram most selective
Give 3 pharmacokinetics of SSRIs
- almost completely absorbed from gut
- long elimination half lives (once daily dosage)
- metabolised in liver
Give 3 common side effects of SSRIs + 2 rare
Common:
- anorexia
- nausea
- diarrhoea
Rare: precipitation of mania and increased suicidal ideation
Give 2 examples of Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Are these first line?
TCAs are first generation antidepressants
They are still used but less often and not first line
Eg. Amitryptiline, imipramine, clomipramine, lofepramine
Give 3 actions of TCAs
1) Inhibition of NA uptake ➞ sympathomimetic effect
2) Blocks Muscarinic cholinoceptors ➞ anticholinergic effect
3) Blocks α1-adrenoceptors ➞ sympatholytic effect
Give the pharmacokinetics of TCAs
- lipid soluble
- absorbed from gut
- long half lives
- metabolised in liver
Give 4 side effects/toxicity problems with TCAs
CNS: sedation + impaired psychomotor performance, lowering of seizure threshold
Autonomic: reduction in glandular secretions, block of eye accommodation
CVS: tachycardia, postural hypotension, impaired myocardial contractility
GI: constipation
What are Serotonin-noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) + 2 examples
What “line” drugs are these?
‘Pure’ non-selective monoamine uptake inhibitors ➞ SSRIs with property of NA uptake inhibition
Eg. Duloxetine and Venlafaxine
Second/third line drugs
SNRIs are dose dependant, compare effect of lower vs higher doses?
Lower doses serotonin action
Higher doses noradrenaline action
Give 4 side effects/toxicity problems with SNRIs
SAME as SSRIs + sleep disturbance, increased BP, dry mouth, hyponatraemia
What is the implication of the half life and stopping treatment of SNRIs
Relatively short half-life therefore may be a withdrawal syndrome on discontinuation
Schizophrenia is an examples of a mental illness with ______ symptoms
Give 2 other conditons that also display these symtpoms
psychotic
Other examples: mania, severe depression, delusional disorder
What is psychosis?
Psychosis causes people to perceive or interpret things differently from those around them, they will have a different perspective on reality
Give 2 KEY symptoms of schizophrenia and explain each
1) Hallucination- a perception in the absence of an external stimulus (auditory, olfactory, visual, gustatory, tactile)
2) Delusion- a fixed false belief, not shaken by reasoning to the contrary, that is out of keeping with someone’s culture or religious beliefs
How is Schizophrenia diagnosed?
Give 2 environment interactions that are a/w Schizophrenia
Cannabis and Trauma