psychiatric drugs

Question 1

important drug categories (5)

Answer 1

*antidepressants
*antipsychotics
*anxiolytics
*mood stabilizers
*stimulants

Question 2

major antidepressant classes (4)

Answer 2

*MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors)
*TCAs (Tricyclic antidepressants)
*SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
*SNRIs (serotonin norepinephrine inhibitors)

Question 3

common side effects of antidepressants (4)

Answer 3

*weight changes
*sexual dysfunction
*mood changes
*anticholinergic effects

Question 4

MAOI unique characterisitics

Answer 4

avoid foods with tyramine

Question 5

tricyclic unique characteristics

Answer 5

risk of orthostatic hypotension

Question 6

SSRI/SNRI unique characteristic

Answer 6

risk of serotonin syndrome

Question 7

triggers serotonin syndrome

Answer 7

increase in serotonin

Question 8

causes increased serotonin leading to serotonin syndrome

Answer 8

*sudden changes in antidepressant dose
*taking multiple antidepressants
*taking antidepressant with st. john’s wort

Question 9

S/S of serotonin syndrome (3)

Answer 9

*restlessness
*increased VS (esp HR and BP)
*muscle rigidity

Question 10

how alcohol detox affects glutamate

Answer 10

increases levels

Question 11

how long for antidepressants to have effect

Answer 11

4-6 weeks

Question 12

focus of 1st gen antipsychotics

Answer 12

positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, other added to reality symptoms)

Question 13

focus of 2nd gen antipsychotics

Answer 13

negative symptoms (not wanting to do things like get out of bed or shower)

Question 14

common antipsychotic symptoms (2)

Answer 14

*sedating
*risk of poor compliance

Question 15

unique characterisics of clozapine

Answer 15

*requires routine blood draws
*agranulocytosis (decrease in white blood cells, depressing immune response)

Question 16

unique characteristic of long-acting injectables (how often needed)

Answer 16

1 injection lasts 1-3 months; less side effects

Question 17

used as mood stabilizers

Answer 17

*mood stabilizers
*anticonvulsants
*others

Question 18

mood stabilizer characterisitics

Answer 18

*weight gain
*have therapeutic range (watch for toxicity)
*risk for noncompliance
*takes time to reach therapeutic levels

Question 19

lithium range

Answer 19

0.-1.2

Question 20

lithium toxicity causes

Answer 20

kidney damage

Question 21

classes of anti-anxiolytic meds (2)

Answer 21

*benzodiazepines
*non-benzodiazepines

Question 22

benzodiazepines

Answer 22

*controlled
*very addictive
*sedating
*appears in urine tox screen
*stopping abruptly=detox (dangerous)

Question 23

non-benzodiazepines

Answer 23

*antihistamines (benadryl, hydroxyzine)
*BP meds (propanolol)
*buspar
*antipsychotics (seroquel, haldol)

Question 24

detox alcohol with

Answer 24

benzodiazepines

Question 25

detox benzodiazepines

Answer 25

slow taper of benzodiazepines

Question 26

common stimulant characteristics

Answer 26

*CNS stimulation *potential for weight loss *can lead to increased agitation *often prescribed in prescribed childhood/adolescence for ADHD, Depression