Psychopharmacology Flashcards
Differentiate between the different drug classes; recognize the drug names to the class
Psychotropic drugs
drugs that affect the person’s behavior, emotional state
Efficacy
maximal aptitude the drug can achieve
Potency
amount of drug required for therapeutic effect
Half-life
time it takes for the amount of a drug’s active substance in your body to reduce by half
- 5 half-life for clearing the syste
Reuptake
neurotransmitters behavior synapses pulled in
Approved use
FDA approval for certain diseases
Lipid solubility
ability to pass through the lipid walls (chemically) High – MEANS PASS THROUGH WITHOUT PERMISSION (higher chance of overdose)
Off-label use
reason used other than intended by FDA
Black box warning
strongest warning
Rebound effect
stop taking the drugs and withdrawal causes more intense symptoms
Withdrawal
= s/s noticed after not taking the substance
Akathisia
feel uneasy
inner restlessness or more intense symptoms
The brain monitors
changes in the external world (stimuli)
composition of body fluids
The brain regulates
contractions of muscles
internal organs
basic drives (hunger, thirst, sex, aggression, self-protection)
mood & emotions
sleep cycles
homeostasis
the brain mediates
conscious sedation
the brain produces and interprets
language and intellectual functions
the brain stores
memories
The cerebellum frontal lobe controls what functions
Thought processes
decision-making,
judgment,
motivation,
insight,
social judgment,
plans
personality development
The cerebellum temporal lobe controls what functions
Language comprehension, stores sounds into memory, connects with limbic system (the emotional brain)
The cerebellum occipital lobe controls what functions
Interprets visual images, visual associations, visual memories, involved with language formation
The cerebellum parietal lobe controls what functions
Receives & identifies sensory information, concept formation and abstraction, proprioception with body awareness, reading and math skills, right and left orientation
Proprioception
awareness of space
Cerebellum
Regulates skeletal muscle (coordination & contraction), & maintains equilibrium
Brainstem
midbrain
pons
medulla oblongata
Midbrain
Pupillary reflex & eye movement
Pons
Processing station in auditory pathways
Medulla Oblongata
Reflex center control (balance, heart rate, resp rate and depth, coughing, sneezing, swallowing & vomiting, maintains blood pressure)
Psychoactive Medications affect what in the body
thinking
behavior
emotions
perceptions
Neurons:
Interconnected nerve cells
Neurotransmitters:
Chemical messengers between neurons which triggers a response from one neuron to another
Neurotransmission:
Conduction of an electrical impulse from one end of the neuron to the other
Synaptic Transmission:
When the electrical impulse reaches the end of a neuron, the neurotransmitter is released at the axon terminal & diffuses across the synapse to the postsynaptic neuron
Inhibitory neurotransmitters:
inhibits action in the post-synaptic cell
Excitatory neurotransmitters:
Promotes action in the post-synaptic cell
Deficient neurotransmitter
the message is not thoroughly delivered as there are too many receptors for the too little messages
Deficient receptor
damage quality of the transmission
sender reuptakes when clogged
- no other messages can get though while clogged
Monoamines types
dopamine
norepinephrine
serotonin
histamine
Amino acids
y-Aminobutyir Acid (GABA)
Glutamate
Cholinergics
acetylcholine
Peptides
substance P
somatostatin
neurotensin
Dopamine affects
fine muscle mvmt
decision-making
release of sex hormones (sex, thyroid, adrenal)
integration of emotions/thoughts
If you have too much dopamine, what diseases could occur +
Schizophrenia
psychosis
mania
If you have too little dopamine, what diseases could occur -
Parkinson’
depression
Norepinephrine affects
mood
attention
arousal
SNS stimulation (fight or flight)
If you have too much norepinephrine, what diseases could occur +
mania
anxiety
psychosis
heightened arousal state
If you have too little norepinephrine, what diseases could occur -
depression
lowered arousal state
Serotonin affects
Sleep regulation
Hunger
Mood
Pain perception
Libido
Aggression
Hormonal activity
If you have too much serotonin, what diseases could occur +
anxiety
If you have too little serotonin, what diseases could occur -
depression
histamine affects
Alertness
Gastric secretion stimulation
Inflammation response
If you have too much histamine, what diseases could occur +
sleep disturbances
anxiety
If you have too little histamine, what diseases could occur -
sedation
seizures
ϒ -Aminobutyric acid:(GABA) affects
Decreases anxiety
Decreases excitement
Decreases Aggression
Anticonvulsant
If you have too much ϒ -Aminobutyric acid:(GABA), what diseases could occur +
reduction of anxiety
If you have too little ϒ -Aminobutyric acid:(GABA), what diseases could occur -
mania
anxiety
psychosis
Glutamate affects
Memory
Emotions
Cognition
If you have too much glutamate, what diseases could occur +
Increased perception of pain
Anxiety
Restlessness
If you have too little glutamate, what diseases could occur -
Low energy
Difficulty concentrating
Insomnia
Psychosis
Acetylcholine(ACh) affects
Learning
Memory
Mood regulation
Sexual and aggressive behavior
PNS stimulant
If you have too much ACh, what diseases could occur +
depression
If you have too little ACh, what diseases could occur -
alzheimer’s
parkinson’s
huntington’s chorea
ACh does what to blood vessels
dilates
What are the s/s of a cholinergic (ACh) crisis (too much)?
INCREASE of
Salivation
Lacrimation (tears)
Urine excess/leakage
Defecation
GI upset
Emesis and vomiting
Antidepressant medication
TCAs
MAOIs
SSRIs
SNRIs
Mood stabilizers
Lithium
Anticonvulsants
Antipsychotics
1st (Typical) and 2nd (Atypical generations
Anxiolytics
benzodiazepines
antihistamines
anticonvulsants
beta blockers
Tx purpose for antidepressants
Major Depression
Panic disorder
Some anxiety disorders
Bipolar depression
Psychotic depression
- mood improvement and decrease depression and anxiety
SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) -
pathos
More likely to see discontinuation syndrome in SSRIs with shorter half-life, such as paroxetine
sit in the synapse in the space to continune down the chain
SNRIs (Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)
– venlafaxine, duloxetine, desvenlafaxine –
also treat anxiety and neuropathic pain inhibits the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine
SNDIs (Serotonin Norepinephrine Disinhibitors) –
mirtazapine –
often combined with SSRIs to enhance antidepressant effects or to reduce SSRI side effects of nausea, anxiety, insomnia
NDRIs (Norepinephrine Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors)
– buproprion – also prescribed for smoking cessation
SARIs (Serotonin Antagonist/Reuptake Inhibitors) – trazodone – at high doses for antidepressant effects, lower doses for hypnotic effects; can cause priapism
– at high doses for antidepressant effects, lower doses for hypnotic effects; can cause priapism
NRIs (Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors) – atomoxetine
– used to treat ADHD when stimulants cannot be tolerated
MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)
– tyramine-restricted diet inhibits the metabolism of the monoamine
TCA are lethal in
overdose
SSRI medication names
fluoxetine (Prozac)
fluvoxamine (Luvox)
paroxetine (Paxil)
sertraline (Zoloft)
citalopram (Celexa)
escitalopram (Lexapro)
vilazodone (Viibrid)
vortioxetine (Trintellix)
SSRIs do what in the body
Inhibit reuptake of serotonin (5HT) making it available longer in the synapse
SSRI side effects
Tremors
Anxiety/agitation
Nausea
Dry mouth (sips of water or candy)
Headache
Diarrhea
Insomnia, drowsiness
Hyponatremia
Sexual dysfunction
Bruxism (especially with paroxetine) – grinding in the teeth
SSRI patient teachings
with morning food
no alcohol or antihistamines
adherence to regimen
Medication should not be discontinued abruptly
Why should you not abruptly D/C SSRIs
prevent withdrawal/discontinuation syndrome - continently for a long time
SSRIs take how long to be therapeutic
1-3 weeks - notice and efficiency
Let the physician know immediately when a pt on SSRIs starts having
suicidal thoughts increases (opposite effect)
If SSRIs are taken with other serotonin-blocking agents may cause (SSRIs, MAOIs, lithium, triptan, buspirone, tramadol, & OTC cold/cough meds)
serotonin toxicity
SSRIs are used cautiosly with what
CYP450 enzyme inhibitors or inducers (Example: ketoconazole or rifampin) – ability to metabolize