Psychopharmacy Flashcards
When are antidepressants indicated?
Unipolar and bipolar depression, Mood disorders, Schizoaffective disorder, Anxiety disorders, PTSD
How long does it take to see the affects of antidepressants work?
3-6 weeks
What are the classifications of antidepressants?
Tricyclics,
Monamine oxidase inhibitors,
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,
Serotonin/ noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors,
Novel antidepressants
Cons of TCAs
Lethal in overdose,
Side effects- antihistaminic, anticholinergic, antiadrenergic,
Can cause QT lengthening
Examples of side effects causes by tertiary TCAs
Antihistaminic (sedation and weight gain),
Anticholinergic (dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation, memory deficits, delirium)
Antiadrenergic (orthostatic hypotension, sedation, sexual dysfunction)
What receptors do tertiary TCAs mainly act on?
Serotonin receptors
Name some examples of tertiary TCAs
Imipramine,
Amitriptyline,
Doxxepin,
Clomipramine
What receptor do secondary TCAs act on?
Noradrenaline
Examples of secondary TCAs
Desipramine,
Notriptyline
How do monoamine oxidase inhibitors work?
Bind irreversibly to monoamine oxidase thereby preventing inactivation of amines such as norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin leading to increased synaptic level
Side effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors?
Orthostatic hypotension, Weight gain, Dry mouth, Sedation, Sexual dysfunction, Sleep disturbance, Cheese reaction
What is the cheese reaction?
A hypertensive crisis that can develop when MAOI’s are taken with tyramine-rich food or sympathomimetics (red wine, cheese, processed meats, beans)
What is serotonin syndrome
A condition that can develop if MAOI is taken with meds that increase serotonin or have sympathomimetic actions
Serotonin syndrome symptoms?
Abdominal pain, Diarrhoea, Sweats, Tachycardia, Hypertension, Myoclonus, Irritability, Delirium, Hyperperexia, Cardiovascular shock and death
How to avoid serotonin syndrome?
Wait 2 weeks before switching from an SSRI to an MAOI
And wait 5 weeks if swapping from fluoxetine
How do selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work?
Block the presynaptic serotonin reuptake
Side effects of SSRIs
GI upset, Sexual dysfunction, Anxiety, Restlessness, Nervousness, Insomnia, Fatigue, Sedation, Dizziness
Pro of SSRIs
Little risk of overdose