Psychoactive medicaion

Question 1

What are the two kinds of drug treatment we can give to animals whoc have abnormal behaviour?

Answer 1

Drugs given long term to lower the baseline level of arousal

Drugs given short term eg benzodiazapines which wil supress the memory of an event

Question 2

What are the four uses of behaviour modifying drugs?

Answer 2

Reduce general anxiety

Reduce situational anxiety

Reduce fearfulness

Suppress memory of events

Question 3

What are the three fazes of pschoactive medication?

Answer 3

Initiation

Maintenance

Withdrawal

Question 4

How long does it usually take before you start to see the desired effects of the drug?

Answer 4

4-8 weeks

Question 5

How long should the maintenance period be?

Answer 5

Can be either

til end of licensed period

When there is a period of normal behavour

If you no longer think the drug will be helpful for the signs the animal is now showing

Question 6

Why should you withdraw the drug slowly?

Answer 6

Adverse effects reported in people with quick withdrawal - head aches etc

Higher incidence of recidivism if withdraw quickly

Question 7

How long should the withdrawal period take?

Answer 7

Approx 1 week for every month of treatment

Question 8

What are the levels of serotonin and serotonin receptors like in depressed/anxious individuals?

Answer 8

Have more serotonin receptors and less serotonin at the synapse

Question 9

What does SRI stand for and what do these drugs therefore do?

Answer 9

SRI = Serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Prevent serotonin reuptake so levels at the synapse stay higher

Question 10

What are the immediate and secondary effects of SRI drugs?

Answer 10

Immediate effect = more serotonin around, can actually have negative effects such as sometimes make them more aggressive/anxious

Delayed effect = Downregulation of serotonin receptors, this is what really does the trick

Question 11

What other receptors also tend to be acted on by SRI drugs?

Answer 11

Histamine H1

ACh M1

a-adrenoreceptor

Question 12

What are the side effects associated with the action of SRIs at the H1 receptor?

Answer 12

Weight gain

Sedation

Question 13

What are the side effects associated with the effect of SRIs at the M1 receptor?

Answer 13

Constipation

Dry mouth

Urinary retention

Question 14

What are the side effects associated with SRI action at the a-adrenergic receptor?

Answer 14

Hypotension

Sedation

Question 15

What do SRI drugs also commonly inhibit the reuptake of?

Answer 15

Noradrenaline

They are SRIs and NRIs

Question 16

How does amitriptyline work?

Answer 16

It is a TCA. It has NRI and SRI activity (4:1)

Question 17

What is the specific use for amitryptiline?

Answer 17

Feline interstitial cystitis

Question 18

How does Clomipramine work?

Answer 18

Is is an SRI and NRI drug (more SRI than NRI, 5:1)

Technically a TCA but referred to as an SRI

Question 19

What are the uses for clomipramine?

Answer 19

Generalised anxiety

Seperation anxiety

Compulsive disorders

Felin hyperaesthesia syndrome

Question 20

What is Fluoxetine?

Answer 20

An SSRI (little NRI activity), has LOWER LEVELS OF SIDE EFFECTS

Question 21

What is Fluoxetine used for?

Answer 21

Compulsions

General anxiety

Seperation anxiety

IMPULSE aggression

Frustration related aggression (cats)

Question 22

What is sertreline?

Answer 22

Another SSRI, almost no NRI activity

Question 23

What is Sertraline especially useful for?

Answer 23

Generalised anxiety

Noise phobias

Question 24

What do serotonergic drugs have adverse drug reactions with?

Answer 24

Amitraz

Opioids (respiratory depression)

MAOIs (selegeline)

Phenothiazines

Question 25

Name 5 medical conditions with which serotonergic drugs shouldn’t be used

Answer 25

Cardiac arrhythmias

Diabetes (as may cause hyperglycaemia)

Thyroid disease

Epilepsy (lower seizure treshold)

Narrow angle glaucoma

Question 26

What is Trazodone and what is it used for

Answer 26

Trazodone is a SARI (serotonin agonist and reuptake inhibitor)

Used as adjunct to other SRIs if not working effectively

Not licensed but paper shows useful in noise phobias

Risk of serotonin syndrome - careful

Question 27

What is the one example of a dopaminergic drug we use?

Answer 27

Selegeline

Question 28

How does selegeline work?

Answer 28

MAOb breaks down dopamine at the synapse, Selegeline binds to MAOb so that it can’t break down dopamine

Does have a low level of MAOa activity hence prevents serotonin breakdown too

Question 29

Why can’t you give selegeline with SRI drugs?

Answer 29

Because Selegeline has MAOa activity so prevents break down of serotonin, combined with an SRI drug = risk of serotonin syndrome

Question 30

What is selegeline used to treat?

Answer 30

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD)

Fear

Increases exploratory & risk taking activity and decreases fear but NB animal may be brave enough to approach someone their scared of but if pushed beyond their comfort will stil react

Question 31

What drug interactions occur with selegeline?

Answer 31

Can’t use with SRIs, TCAs

Potentiates benzodiazapines

Can’t use with ACP or pithidine

Question 32

What is our one example of GABA ergic drug?

Answer 32

Benzodiazapines

Open Chloride ion channels and stabilise membrane

Question 33

Which drug is best for amnesia?

Answer 33

Benzodiazapines

Question 34

When would you not want to use benzodiazapines?

Answer 34

In aggressive/implusive dogs as leads to disinhibition