psychopharmacology for psychiatry Flashcards
what are the 4 types of treatments in medicine
chemical - drugs, medicine
electrical stimulation e.g ect for depression
structural rearrangement e.g surgery and orthopaedics
talking therapies e.g cbt
how to classify psychiatric drugs
- based on chemical structures
- based on illness they treat
- based on their pharmacology - neuroscience based nomenclature
what are some examples of drugs which block enzyme activity
monoamine oxidase inhibitors - for anxiety and depression (block breakdown of 5ht and noradrenaline)
acetylcholinesterase inhibitors - for dementias
lithium - blocks glycogen synthase kinase for mood stability
what are some receptor targeting medicines
antagonists:
- dopamine receptors blockers for schizophrenia
- serotonin receptor subtype antagonists for depression
- histamine receptor antagonist for sleep
agonists:
- benzodiazepines enhance GABA - help with sleep
- guanfacine enhance noradrenaline in adhd
what are some examples of reuptake site targeting medicines
citalopram - enhances serotonin, ssri for depression and anxiety
desipramine - noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, nri - for depression
methylphenidate - dopamine reuptake inhibitor - for adhd
- some can switch reuptake site direction to enhance release
e.g amfetamine for adhd
increases release of dopamine
what are some drugs that block channels so reduce neuronal excitability
sodium channels:
(block transmission of info down axon)
sodium valproate and carbamazepine- used in epilepsy and mood stabilisation
calcium channels:
e.g gabapentin and pregabalin - epilepsy and anxiety
fast acting excitatory neurotransmitter
glutamate
- present in 80% of neurones
in pyramidal cells - neurons which regulate brain function
fast acting inhibitory neurotransmitter
gaba - make up 15% of neurones
= interneurones
involved in memory, movement, vision
what are the slow acting (modulators)
make up about 5% of all
- dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, acetylcholine
- endorphins and other peptides
involved in emotions,drives valence of memory
what is a partial agonist
lower max efficacy than full agonists
- improved safety - esp in overdose
in states of high neurotransmitter/ excess agonist med can act as an agonist
what are some examples of partial agonists
buprenorphine
aripiprazole
varenicline