Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology Flashcards
Acetylcholine Function
- Sleep wake cycle
- Muscle coordination and motor activity
- Pain perception
- Learning, memory acquisition, and retention
Acetylcholine and Serotonin Relationship
They have an inverse relationship with each other
Decreased levels of acetylcholine are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Alzheimer’s disease
2. Dementia
Increased levels of acetylcholine are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Aggression
Dopamine Function
- Motor coordination
- Metabolism
- Motivation, emotion, pleasure/reward system in the brain
- Temperature control
- Sexual function
- Increases BP
Decreased levels of dopamine are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Parkinson’s disease
Increased levels of dopamine are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Schizophrenia
2. Mania
Norepinephrine Function
- Associated with “fight or flight”
- Regulation of mood
- Can affect attention and learning
- Wakefulness
Decreased levels of norepinephrine are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Depression
Increased levels of norepinephrine are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Anxiety
2. Manic symptoms
Serotonin Function
- Affects sleep
- Appetite
- Hormone secretion
- Thermoregulation
- Emotions, mood, cognition
- Sexual behavior and libido
Decreased levels of serotonin are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Depression
- Insomnia (serotonin breaks down into melatonin)
- Anxiety
- OCD
Increased levels of serotonin are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Serotonin Syndrome
GABA Function
Controls spinal and cerebellar reflexes and decreases excitability of neurons in the brain
Decreased levels of GABA are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Seizures
- Anxiety
- Panic disorders
Increased levels of GABA are associated with what mental illnesses?
Excessive Relaxation or sedation
Glutamate Function
Widely distributed excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain with some role in learning and memory
Decreased levels of glutamate are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Agitation
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Loss of energy
Increased levels of glutamate are associated with what mental illnesses?
- Neurotoxicity by overstimulation of nerves
- Huntington’s
- AIDS related dementia
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety
Efficacy
Ability of drug to produce a response
Potency
Dose of drug required to produce a specific effect
Tolerance
Gradual decrease in the action of a drug at a given dose or concentration in the blood
Toxicity
The point when concentrations of a drug in the bloodstream are high enough to become harmful or poisonous
Therapeutic Index
Ratio of the maximum nontoxic dose to the minimum effective dose
- Always start at the lowest possible dosage and then work your way up if needed
How does advancing age affect drug toxicity?
Elderly population is vulnerable to drug toxicity due to decreasing kidney function. The kidney isn’t excreting the drug, so it stays in the body too long
How can race affect what medications are prescribed?
Asians lack Cytochrome P450 which aids in metabolizing medications so they require smaller doses of alprazolam, haloperidol, and beta blockers
- Also African Americans do not respond will to ACE inhibitors
How can gender affect what medications are prescribed?
- Women respond better than males to SSRIs
2. Women with schizophrenia require smaller doses of antipsychotics
Common Conventional Antipsychotics (Typical)
- Thioridazine
- Chlorpromazine
- Fluephenazine
- Thiothixene
- Haloperidol
- Droperidol
Conventional Antipsychotics: Indication for Use
- Most common indication is schizophrenia
- Mania, autism, disorganized thinking, agitations, Tourette’s syndrome, intractable hiccups
- Psychotics symptoms associated with head trauma, tumor, stroke, alcohol withdrawal
Conventional Antipsychotics: Mechanism of Action
Blocks the action of dopamine (D2, D3, D4)
- Suppresses only the positive signs of schizophrenia (hallucinations)
Conventional Antipsychotics: Side Effects
- Anticholinergic effects
- Hypotension/Orthostatic hypotension
- Antihistamine effects: sedation and weight gain
- Lowers the seizure threshold
- Photosensitivity
- Increased Prolactin level (galactorrhea)
- Extrapyramidal symptoms
- Tardive dyskinesia
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Extrapyramidal Symptoms
- Dystonia
- Akathisia
- Pseudoparkinsonism
Dystonia
- Facial grimacing
- Involuntary upward eye movement
- Muscle spasms of the tongue, face, neck, and back (back muscle spasms cause trunk to arch forward)
- Laryngeal spasms
Akathisia
- Restless
- Trouble standing still
- Paces the floor
- Feet in constant motion, rocking back and forth
Pseudoparkinsonism
- Stooped posture
- Shuffling gait
- Rigidity
- Bradykinesia (slow movement)
- Tremors at rest
- Pill-rolling motion of the hand
Tardive Dyskinesia
- Protrusion and rolling of the tongue
- Sucking and smacking movement of the lips
- Chewing motion
- Facial dyskinesia (involuntary movement of the face)
- Involuntary movement of the body and extremeties
- Constant eye blinking
- Bonbon sign
Why can extrapyramidal symptoms present when on conventional antipsychotics?
Occurs when there is an imbalance of acetylcholine, dopamine, and GABA in the basal ganglia as a result of blocking dopamine
Treatment for Acute Dystonia
Anticholinergic medications such as benztropine which inhibits acetylcholine and restores balance
Treatment for Akathisia
Switch medication to atypical antipsychotic or decrease the dose of medication to see if improved
Treatment for Pseudoparkinsonism
Switch medications and sometimes benztropine is given
Bonbon Sign
Appears with Tardive Dyskinesia
- The tongue rolls around in the mouth and protrudes into the cheek
Long Term Health Issues of Tardive Dyskinesia
Choking associated with loss of control of swallowing muscles and respiratory function compromised
Treatment for Tardive Dyskinesia
- The best management is PREVENTION
- Use the lowest possible dose of antipsychotic medications over time that will minimize the target symptoms without EPS or TD
- Change antipsychotic medication to a second generation antipsychotic
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
- Only occurs with antipsychotic medications
S/Sx of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
F = Fever E = Encephalopathy V = Vitals unstable E = Elevated enzymes (CPK) R = Rigidity of muscles
- Also mental status change
Risk Factors for NMS
- Dehydration
- History of NMS
- Recent dosage increase of antipsychotic medications
- Psychomotor agitation
- Lithium and antipsychotics taken together
Restarting Antipsychotics After NMS
At least 2 weeks should be allowed to elapse after recovery from NMS before low-potency conventional antipsychotics or atypical antipsychotics should be titrated gradually after a test dose; and patients should be carefully monitored for early signs of NMS
Common Atypical Antipsychotics
- Aripiprazole
- Clozapaine
- Iloperidone
- Olanzapine
- Quetiapine
- Risperidone
- Asenapine
- Ziprasidone
Atypical Antipsychotics: Indications for Use
- Drugs of choice for psychosis, schizophrenia, mania, and autism
- Associated with less EPS and TD
- Treats both positive and negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia
Atypical Antipsychotics: Mechanism of Action
Blocks dopamine and serotonin receptors
Atypical Antipsychotics: Side Effects
- Weight gain
- Cataracts
- Sexual side effects
- Hyperlipidemia
- Myocarditis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Prolonged QTC interval
- EPS
Atypical Antipsychotics: Nursing Implications
- Weight with BMI: weight gain can be extreme (this can influence their compliance)
- Waist circumference: increase abdominal visceral fat
- Baseline of patient and family history for dyslipidemia, HTN, CVD, DM, hyperglycemia
- LABS: serum glucose (fasting), lipid profile (HDL/LDL)
What do mood stabilizers do?
- Relieve symptoms during manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder
- Prevent recurrence of manic and depressive episodes
- Do not worsen symptoms of mania or depression, or accelerate the rate of cycling
Gold Standard for Mood Stabilizers
Lithium
Anticonvulsants used as mood stabilizers
- Carbamazepine
- Lamotrigine
- Divalproex sodium
Anticonvulsants that are off label used as mood stabilizers
- Gabapentin
- Topimirate
- Oxcarbazepine
Lithium: Mechanism of Action
- Unknown
- Salt and acts like sodium
- Increases serotonin
- Decreases norepinephrine
Lithium: Indications for Use
- Treatment and prevention of acute manic episodes in bipolar
- Maintenance bipolar
- Aggression
- Impulsivity
- Antisocial personality
- Mania
Lithium: Adverse Effects
- Cardiac dysrhythmias
- Seizures
- Weight gain
- N/V and GI upset
- Fine hand tremors
- Dry mouth
- Polyuria
- Thyroid enlargement
- Goiter
- Hypothyroidism
- Fatigue and lethargy
Normal Serum Lithium Level
0.6 - 1.2
How often are lithium levels monitored?
- Lithium levels are monitored every 1-3 days at the beginning of therapy, then once every several months after that
- Levels must be drawn 12 hours after last dose taken because lithium peak is 4-12 hours
What kind of labs should be drawn prior to starting a patient on lithium?
- Renal
- Cardiac
- Thyroid
Symptoms of Lithium Toxicity (1.5 - 2.0)
- Nausea
- Ataxia
- Tinnitus
- Blurred vision
- Severe diarrhea
Symptoms of Lithium Toxicity (2.1 - 3.5)
- Excessive output of dilute urine
- Increasing tremors
- Muscular irritability
- Psychomotor retardation
- Mental confusion
- Giddiness
Symptoms of Lithium Toxicity (Above 3.5)
- Impaired consciousness
- Nystagmus
- Seizures
- Oliguria/anuria
- Cardiac dysrhythmias (V-tach, SVT)
- Cardiovascular collpase
- Coma
Treatment for Lithium Toxicity
- Hold next lithium dose and toxicity will usually resolve within 24-48 hours
- In severe cases hemodialysis is effective for removing drug from the body
If Lithium level is high but the patient shows no symptoms of toxicity
- Make sure and ask the patient when they took the last dose of Lithium
- Labs need to be drawn 12 hours after the last dose
Lithium: Nutrition Requirements
- It is important to eat a normal diet with normal salt and fluid intake (1500-3000 mL/day)
If you have these symptoms you should stop taking Lithium
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- These can dehydrate you and can raise lithium levels in the blood to toxic levels
Lithium: Patient Teaching
- Nutrition
- When to stop taking it (dehydration, toxicity)
- Do not take diuretics
- Take with meals
- Kidney, thyroid function should be routinely monitored
- If discontinued, it needs to be tapered
- Do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding
When is divalproex administered as a mood stabilizer?
- Acute mania
- Maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder
- Migraine prophylaxis
When is lamotrigine administered as a mood stabilizer?
Maintenance treatment of bipolar 1 disorder
When is carbamazepine administered as a mood stabilizer?
Acute mania
Contraindications for Antidepressants
- Acute schizophrenia
- Severe renal, hepatic, or cardiovascular disease
- Suicidal tendencies
- Narrow angle glaucoma
- Seizures
Tricyclic Antidepressants: Indications for Use
- Depression
- Bipolar disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- OCD
Tricyclic Antidepressants: Mechanism of Action
- Blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin
- The effects of tricyclics are attributed to changes in receptors rather than changes in neurotransmitters
Tricyclic Antidepressants: Watch for Signs of
- Sedation
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Decreased sexual ability or desire
- Dry mouth
- Urinary retention
- Tachycardia
MAOIs: Mechanism of Action
- Inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) that breaks down the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and others
- By inhibiting MAO, serotonin and norepinephrine activity is increased in the nerve synapse
MAOIs: Indications for Use
Depression
** Not usually 1st line antidepressants
Why should you avoid tyramine when taking MAOIs?
- MAOIs interact with foods that are rich in tyramine
- Tyramine has a vasopressor effect that when increased causes significant hypertension crisis
Foods to Avoid that Contain Tyramine
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Beef or chicken liver
- Brewer’s yeast
- Broad beans
- Caffeine
- Cheese, especially aged except for cottage cheese
- Meat extracts and tenderizers
- Overripe fruit
- Papaya
- Pickled herring
- Raisins
- Red wine, beer, sherry
- Sausage, bologna, pepperoni, salami
- Sour cream
- Soy sauce
- Yogurt
Drug-Drug Interactions with MAOIs
- Cough and cold medicines
- St. Johns Wort
- SSRIs/SNRIs
- Trycyclics
- General anesthesia
- Vasoconstrictors
Serotonin Syndrome
- Can occur when MAOIs and SSRIs/SNRIs are used together OR too close together
- If switching from MAOI to SSRI (or vice versa) MUST not be given within 2 weeks (14 days) of each other
S/Sx of Serotonin Syndrome
- Mental status changes
- Autonomic instability
- Neuromuscular hyperactivity
Serotonin Syndrome: Autonomic Instability
- Hyperthermia
- Tachycardia
- Mydriasis (pupil dilation)
- Diaphoresis
- N/V/D
Serotonin Syndrome: Neuromuscular Hyperactivity
- Hyperkinesia
- Hyperreflexia
- Trismus (lockjaw)
- Myoclonus (twitching/jerking)
- Cogwheel rigidity (jerky feeling in your arm or leg that you can sense when rotating that limb or joint)
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Trycyclic Drugs
- Amitriptyline
- Doxepin
- Nortriptyline
- Imipramine
MAOI Drugs
- Phenelzine
- Tranycypromine
- Isocarboxazid
SSRI Drugs
- Citalopram
- Escitalopram
- Fluvoxamine
- Fluoxetine
- Paroxetine
- Sertraline
Side Effects of SSRIs
- HA
- Nausea
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Sexual dysfunction
- Weight gain
- Do NOT take with MAOIs or abruptly stop taking medication
Discontinuation Syndrome
Caused from abrupt discontinuation of SSRI and other antidepressants
S/Sx of Discontinuation Syndrome
- Flu like symptoms
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Imbalance
- Sensory disturbances
- Hyperarousal (agitation/anxiety)
SNRI Drugs
- Venlofaxine
- Duloxetine
- Desvenlafaxine
SNRI: Mechanism of Action
Acts by blocking serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, but has side effects similar to SSRI
SNRI: Drug-Drug Interactions
- MAOI = Serotonin Syndrome
2. Warfarin and NSAIDs = increase risk of bleeding
Nursing Considerations for SNRIs
Check the patients baseline BP because these meds can raise BP
Bupropion: Indications for Use
- Depression
2. Smoking cessation
Bupropion: Side Effects
- Lowers seizure threshold so do not use in patients with seizures
- Weight loss
- Be sure to check patient’s baseline BP because this med can raise BP
Mirtazapine: Indications for Use
Depression
Mirtazapine: Side Effects
- Sedation
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
Trazadone: Indications for Use
- Depression
2. Off Label: insomnia and anxiety
Trazadone: Side Effects
- Sedation
- Weight gain
- N/V
- Dizziness
- Tremors
Benzodiazepines: Indications for Use
- Panic and anxiety disorders
2. Drug of choice for short-term treatment of insomnia
Benzodiazepines: Mechanism of Action
Targets GABA receptors and enhances the levels of GABA
Benzodiazepine Drugs (FYI)
- Triazolam
- Oxazepam
- Temazepam
- Lorazepam
- Alprazolam
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Diazepam
- Halazepam
- Clorazepate
- Prazepam
- Clonazepam
- Flurazepam
Non-Benzodiazepine Drugs
- Zolpidem
- Diphenhydramine
- Zaleplon
- Eszopiclone
- Ramelteon
- Buspirone
Non-Benzodiazepine Action
Bind preferentially to GABA receptors and have a less widespread effect than benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines: Adverse Effects
- Drowsiness, sedation
- Psychomotor and cognitive impairment
- Vertigo
- Confusion
- Increased appetite and weight gain
- Alterations in sexual function
- Rashes are uncommon
- Some women fail to ovulate
- Adictive
Non-Benzodiazepine Drugs Used to Treat Insomnia
- Eszopiclone
- Zaleplon
- Zolpidem
Why is propanolol used to treat anxiety?
Used to decrease BP and HR
Stimulants for ADHD
- Methylphenidate (Concerta/Ritalin)
- Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
- Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)
Why do we give stimulants to ADHD clients?
- They cause the release of norepinephrine and dopamine into the synapse and block the reuptake of these neurotransmitters
- Stimulants produce a paradoxical calming of the increased motor activity characteristics of ADHD
- Kids with ADHD are low in dopamine and they constantly self-stimulate by wiggling, talking out of turn, running around, etc. by giving them stimulants that increase dopamine they can focus and they don’t need to self-stimulate
Common Effects of Stimulants
- Enhanced alertness, awareness, wakefulness, endurance, productivity, and motivation
- Increased arousal
- Increase HR and BP
- A perception of a diminished requirement for food and sleep
- Can improve mood and relieve anxiety
Side Effects of Stimulants
- Insomnia
- Decreased appetite
- HA
- Stomach aches
- Mood changes
- Increase HR and BP
- Tics
- Psychosis
- Seizures
Non-Stimulant Medication for ADHD
Atomoxetine (Strattera)
Atomoxetine
- A norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor initially developed to be an antidepressant
- 2nd line ADHD agent in ADHD: Only after stimulants failed or when side effects of stimulants are intolerable
- Lower efficacy but fewer and less severe side effects
Nursing Considerations for ADHD Drugs
- Weigh client at least weekly
- Reduce anorexia by encouraging client to take meds after meals
- Administer last dose of the day at least 6 hours before bed to prevent insomnia
- Encourage a “drug holiday” on weekends or when out of school
- Avoid OTC medications due to drug interactions