Psychopharmacology Flashcards
When switching from SSRI or SNRI to MAOI, which of the following medications requires a 5-6 week washout period?
A. Paroxetine
B. Sertraline
C. Citalopram
D. Venlafaxine
E. Fluoxetine
E. Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine (Prozac) requires 5-6 week washout period due to its extremely long half-life. All other SSRIs, and SNRIs, and TCAs require a standard 2-week washout period.
MOA: Memantine?
Use?
NMDA receptor antagonist; inhibits glutamate stimulation and theoretically limits overactivation of and toxicity to remaining cholinergic neurons
Used in moderate to severe neurocognitive disorders (dementia)
Which TCA has been found in considerably higher concentrations in breat milk, compared to other medications in the same class?
A. Doxepin
B. Amitriptyline
C. Clomipramine
D. Nortriptyline
E. Nitroxazepine
A. Doxepin
Infant plasma concentrations are considerably higher for doxepin than for other TCAs.
SSRIs cause what type of sexual dysfunction?
Affects both libido and orgasms
SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction occurs in both women and men.
Ginseng’s affect on mental and physical performance when combined pt is on lithium
Ginseng has been reported to interact with certain psychiatric medications (including phenelzine, lithium, and neuroleptics), causing irritability, insomnia, and mania.
What type of symptoms characterizes the toxicity of clomipramine?
Cardiac arrhythmias, convulsions, coma
TCAs block the reuptake of norepinephrine or 5-HT
Pathophysiology of schizophrenia
Overactivity of nigrostriatal and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic pathways
Nigrostriatal = neurons projecting from substantia nigra to dorsal striatum (caudate and putamen)
Tuberoinfundibular = arises from hypothalamus and projects to pituitary; dopamine released by these neurons inhibits prolactin release from pituitary
What is the most appropriate medication for melancholic depression in the geriatric population?
A. Isocarboxazid
B. Tranylcypromine
C. Doxepin
D. Phenelzine
E. Nortriptyline
E. Nortriptyline
TCAs (doxepin) and MAOIs. (tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine) are more poorly tolerated in geriatric patients and are generally considered second- or third-line agents in this patient population.
However, nortriptyline is still used as a first-line agent for elderly melancholic patients.
An overdose of antipsychotics can lead to seizures. Which of these drugs are the most likely to cause seizures?
A. Haloperidol and olanzapine
B. Olanzapine and aripiprazole
C. Lurasidone and perphenazine
D. Clozapine and chloropromazine
E. Risperidone and asenapine
D. Clozapine and chloropromazine
Clozapine leads to seizures in 4% of patients taking >600 mg. Chlorpromazine is the most likely to cause seizures among typical antipsychotics.
A 45 yo woman presents to ER with diarrhea, diaphoresis, and agitation. She takes citalopram for depression and sumatriptan for migraines. On exam, the patient exhibits involuntary, rhythmic contractions in her lower extremities. At the end of the exam, she says she started a new medication a few days ago. Which of the following medications is most likely contributing to her clinical presentation?
A. Haloperidol
B. Acetaminophen
C. Warfarin
D. Lorazepam
E. Tramadol
E. Tramadol
Centrally acting synthetic opioid analgesic. Binds to mu-opioid receptors and weakly inhibits reuptake of NE and 5-HT. Weak inhibition of serotonin reuptake increases total amount of serotonin in the body. Taking tramadol in combo with citalopram (another serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and sumatriptan (a selective agonist of serotonin receptors) increases the amount of serotonin in the body, causing serotonin syndrome.
Which antidepressant has the greatest evidence of beneficial effects in pts with depressed mood and eating disorders?
A. Sertraline
B. Fluoxetine
C. Bupropion
D. Nortriptyline
B. Fluoxetine
Which antidepressant is least likely to cause significant drug-drug interactions in the elderly?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Paroxetine
C. Sertraline
D. Fluvoxamine
E. Venlafaxine
E. Venlafaxine
Which of the following is NOT a method for maintenance tx of rapid cycling bipolar disorder:
a. Stop the triggering factor(s)
b. Have thyroid status stabilized
c. Lithium monotherapy
d. Valproic acid
e. SSRI
E. Antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, may prompt rapid cycling
MOA: Galantamine
AChE inhibitor and allosteric nicotinic modulator
What prescription medication is approved by the USFDA for treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and cataplexy associated with narcolepsy?
Sodium oxybate (Xyrem)