Psychopharm Nuggets Flashcards
Medications approved for OCD
fluvoxamine paroxetine sertraline fluoxeteine clomipraine (look for anticholinergic side effects and sedation)
TCA’s used for insomnia
Amitrityline
Doxepin
Common side effects associated with anticholinergics
dry mouth, constipation, tachycardia
Off label uses for wellbutrin other than the standard depression
ADHD, bipolar depression, and sexual dysfunction caused by SSRI
Target dose for wellbutrin for managing depression
300 mg total
Difference in how you dose wellbutrin when prescribing SR,IR,or ER
SR and IR need BID dosing (separate at least 6-8 hrs to decrease risk of seizures)- there is a higher risk for seizures with larger doses of wellbutrin in SR and IR versions
ER is once a day
Ways that seizure risk is increased with wellbutrin
SR/IR at high doses (>450)
Crushing and snorting it, chewing it, dividing it
Receptors that wellbutrin acts on
DA and NE reuptake inhibitors
Common side effects of wellbutrin
Agitation, insomnia, headache, nausea, vomiting, tremor, tachycardia, dry mouth, weight loss.
Ideal depressed patients that would benefit from wellbutrin
Those with poor concentration and fatigue and concerned about weight gain
Factors to base SSRI decision on
side effects, cost, and drug interactions
All of the SSRI’s are technically of the same efficacy
Which SSRI is associated with a prolonged QTc
Citalopram (studies noted that when given doses greater than 40 mg daily, QTc prolonged)
This is not seen with escitalopram
Which SSRI has the least drug interactions
Escitalopram, racemic version of citalopram
Which SSRI is most associated with anxiety, insomnia, and decreased appetite
fluoxeteine/prozac
What disorder is fluvoxamine often used for
OCD
Con’s with prescribing fluvoxamine
BID dosing and risk for drug interactions
What sexual dysfuntion is an SSRI helpful for
premature ejaculation
Which benzo is a good one to start with for anxiety if needed
clonazepam because of it’s long half life and has a gradual onset and offset
Time frame regimen for rx ssri + benzo
start patient on ssri and benzo, but then tell them the plan to stop the benzo in 2 weeks because they will no longer need it because the SSRI would have started to kick in by then
When is propranolol useful in anxiety
when the patient is experiencing somatic symptoms like heart pounding and shortness of breath and shaking/tremors
Why is prescribing benzos and opiates a no-no
increased risk of profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death
Mechanism of propranolol
non-selective beta 1 and beta 2 antagonists
Dosage range for propranolol
10mg -40 mg BID
When would you want to use propranolol with lithium
if there is a lithium induced tremor
Metabolism of propranolol
CYP2D6
How long until you see some effect when starting an antidepressant
It is actually 1-2 weeks the patient should see some impovement (2-4 weeks is actually a myth according to maudsley)
When should you consider switching an antidepressant
if there is NO response at all by 3-4 weeks (if they experience some relief then don’t switch, they may get a full response in a few more weeks)
What side effects are associated with paxil
weight gain and sexual dysfunction
What SSRI is associated with diarrhea the most
zoloft
Cardiac side effects associated with TCA’s
prolonged QTc, tachycardia, hypotension
When is suicide risk the highest with antidepressants
when first starting the medication and when discontinuing it
(still good to place people on SSRI beccause treating depression is the best way to prevent suicide and SSRI’s is one of the best treatments for now that we have)
How long should a patient be on an antidepressant
6-9 months for single episodes
do SSRI’s treat the cause of depression
NO, they only help to relieve the symptoms
At what point should you assess to see if a patient is experiencing benefit from SSRI
2 weeks! switch to another agent
An indication to use IR buproprion
Pt’s with bariatric surgery, concerns about how it is absorbed
Alternative medication combo with fluoxeteine for treatment resistant depression
combine with olanzapine, typically is related to bipolar depression
Meds often used as adjucnt to SSRI when treatment resistant depressione
lithium, quetiapine (150-300 mg), abilify (2-10 mg), buproprion (up to 400 mg), or mirtazipine (can do combo of venlafaxine also, but in general with adding mirtazipine, there is a theoretical risk of serotonin syndrome)
What are the cons associated with ketamine treatment in resistant depression (Pro is rapid response)
has to be done in the hospital if IV and need multiple sessions
What dose of T3 is needed for adjunct in resistant depression
20-50 micrograms
Dose of omega 3 for depression adjunts
1-2 grams daily
Best treatment for depression with psychotic features
combination of SSRI + antipsychotic OR TCA (imipramine) alone
Also consider ECT, effective and thought to be protective against relapsing into it again
With ECT, meds that decrease the duration of the seizure (meds you want to hold)
Benzos, AED’s, barbituates.
Some recommend holding lithium because it increases the risk of confusion- actually increases length of seizure possibly
What population should TCA’s be avoided in
those with cardiac issues and elderly patients, Go for SSRI’s
Benefits of stimulants in depression
euphoria, wakefulness, and improved fatigue (although modafanil does not provide euphoria but don’t have to worry about dependence or tolerance like the other ones)
Not really recommended to use stimulants in depression though
When might using stimulants in depression be a good idea
for patients on hospice who are not expected to live for much longer
Which antidepressants have been studied the most and found to be the most tolerable and effective in post-stroke
zoloft, prozac, celexa, and nortriptyline
Nortriptyline is not associated with increased bleeding risk if stroke was hemorrhagic or the patient is on an anticoagulant
Celexa does not affect the enzymes related to anticoagulants as well
Risks associated with SSRI’s in elderly
- increased risk of bleeding (if on NSAIDS, warfarin, or steroids)
- more likely to develop hyponatremia from it
- hypotension
- falls
SSRI’s that are more likely to have drug-drug interactions
fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, and paroxetine because they are potent CYP inhibitors
SSRI’s that are least likely to have drug- drug interactions
sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, and vortioxetine
Which SNRI/SSRI is the most toxic in the case of overdose
venlafaxine
Adverse effects seen in TCA’s
can lead to anticholinergic effects (urinary retention, dry mouth, blurry vision), seizures, cardiac arrythmias
what increases the risk of reccurence of depressive episodes?
Having multiple episodes, the more episodes you have the more likely you are to have another episode in comparison to someone who has only had 1 episode
When continuing antidepressant therapy and their symptoms have improved, should you adjust their dose?
No, keep it at the same treatment dose. There is no benefit in decreasing it
Discontinuation syndrome vs withdawal
discontinuation = symptoms that you experience when you stop a drug that is not a drug of dependence
withdrawal = symptoms associated with drugs of dependence
Types of symptoms experienced in discontiuation syndrome
GI, affective, neuro (parastheisas or increased dreaming)
Which psych meds increases the risk of discontinuation syndrome
ones with short half lifes (paxil and effexor)
Common symptoms assosicated with SSRI discontinuation syndrome
Flu like symptoms Shock like sensations dizziness worse with movement insomnia vivd dreaming irritability crying spells
(Paxil and venlafaxine)
Common discontinuation syndrome symptoms with TCA’s
Flu like
insomnia
excessibe dreaming
Common discontinuation syndrome symptoms with MAOI
agitation irritability ataxia vivid dreams slowed/pressured speech
The time frame you should take to discontinue an antidepressant
4 weeks (especially for one’s that have a shorter half life)
If discontinuation symptoms are bad, may do it slower or introduce one with a longer half life and taper
How long do you have to take an antidepressant to experience discontinuation syndrome
6 weeks
When is it appropriate to discontinue an antidepressant abruptly
severe adverese events, like cardiac arrythmias
Pharmacodynamic effects of TCA’s
- H1 blockers- sedating (be mindful of combining with other sedating meds/substance because it can lead to resp depression)
- Anticholinergic (mindful of combining with antihistamines or antipsychotics)
- a1 blockers (hypotension, espically if getting other a1 blockers)
- arrythmogenic (mindful of electrolyte disturbances or if they are on diuretics)
- lowers seizure threshold (if have epilepsy, may need higher dose of AED)
- some are serotenergic (look out for serotonin syndrome when combined with certain meds)
Which TCA’s are serotonergic
imipramine, comipramine, amitriptyline
Pharmacology risks associated with SSRI
- increased risk of bleeding 2/2 to inhibiting platelet aggregation (esp when patient takes NSAID and aspirin)
- increased risk of hyponatremia
- may cause osteopenia
- serotonin syndrome when combined with other serotonergic medications
Risk with MAOI’s
hypertensive crisis 2/2 to overload of monoamines because MAOI’s prevent the destruction of monoamines
antidepressants that are associated with arrythmias (either at normal doses or when OD)
TCA
Trazodone (some case reports)
MAOIs
citalopram
Antidepressants associated with prolonging QTc
citalopram, duloxeteine, trazodone, and TCA’s
Other than TCA’s the prolonged Qt is seen in overdose and from studies there aren’t many clinical correlates with it)
Safest antidepressant post MI
zoloft! (has the least cardaic effects and may help improve cardiovascular risk factors)
Mirtazipine is good as well, as well as fluoxeteine
Antidepressants associated with postural hypotension
TCA
Trazodone
MAOI’s
With benzos, which populations are more likely to get a paradoxical reaction
children/elderly and TBI patients
Max dose of buspar you can give in a day
60 mg total (typically want to split it up)
What receptor does buspar work on?
5ht1a, partial agonsit
What diagnosis is buspar most effective for
GAD (not panic or the other anxiety disorders)
Good alternative for those who cannot have benzos (but probably won’t give as robust a response)
May also help potentiate SSRI antidepressant effects
why does valium act so quickly?
has the highest lipid solubility of all the benzos and thus gets into the CNS the quickest- leading to the rush that people like to abuse
Target dose for prazosin
1-5 mg
Efficacy of prazosin on nightmares
Mixed, some studies have found that it is not more helpful than placebo but you might as well see if it helps with the PTSD nightmares
Dose of vitamin D for depression
1000 -5000 IU
Why do TCA’s induce arrythmias
because they inhibit sodium and calcium channels leading to prolonged PR, QRS, and QT
ECG is a better measure of toxicity than even levels
The cardiotoxicity of antidepressants, especially TCA’s is dependent on what
dose! The higher the dose, the more toxic
Which antidepressants are most associated with hyponatremia
SSRI and SNRI
TCA are medium risk
Risk factors for developing hyponatremia on an SSRI
older age***the most important one female surgery hx of hyponatremia use of other drugs associated with hyponatremia (diuretics, nsaids, antipsych, carbamazapine, laxatives) medical comorbidities low body weight
Time frame to monitor hyponatremia in pt’s on antidepressants
baseline then 3 month