Psychotropic Medication Flashcards
What are psychotropic medications?
Medications that affect neurotransmitters.
Which neurotransmitters do psychotropic meds normally affect?
GABA, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin receptors.
What are psychotropic medications most often used to treat?
Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, and sleep disruptions.
What percentage of Canadians are unsure of whether they would socialize with a friend who had a mental illness?
42%
What percentage of Canadians are unlikely to enter a marriage with someone who had a mental illness?
55%
In any given year, what proportion of adult Canadians will experience a mental health or addiction problem?
1 in 5.
What percentage of the general population has expressed the need for mental health intervention in the last 12 months?
10.1%
Are side effects universal?
No, everyone experiences them differently.
Most side effects are what?
Short lived and treated symptomatically.
What are the 4 main classes of psychotropic medications?
Antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anxiolytics.
What are two types of anti-depressants?
SSRIs and SNRIs.
What does SSRI stand for?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
What does SNRI stand for?
Serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
What are 5 examples of SSRIs?
Celexa, Cirpralex, Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil.
What are 3 examples of SNRIs?
Effexor, Cymbalta, and Prestiq.
What are SNRIs used for?
Often used for depression and anxiety. It treats the general malaise associated with depressive symptoms.
What is one of the most common side effects of SSRIs and SNRIs?
Sexual side effects. Both erectile dysfunction and decreased libido.
What are some side effects of SNRIs and SSRIs? (6)
Nausea, headache, increased BP, fatigue, sedation, and dizziness.
What are atypical antidepressants?
Different mechanisms of action than SNRI/SSRIs; they work on dopamine receptors.
Where are atypical antidepressants most commonly used?
Geriatric care.
What are three examples of atypical antidepressants?
Wellbutrin, Remeron, and Trazodone.
What is a therapeutic range?
The time it takes a drug to take full effect.
What is the therapeutic range of most antidepressants?
4-6 weeks.
What happens when the therapeutic range is reached?
Other side effects are minimal and manageable.
What are the two classes of antipsychotics?
Typical (1st generation), and atypical (2nd generation).
What are 4 examples of typical antipsychotics?
Haldol, Largactil, Nozinan, and Loxapine.
What are 4 examples of atypical antipsychotics?
Abilify, Clozapine, Seroquel, Risperidone, and Zyprexa.
What do most antipsychotics work to do?
They affect the brain’s ability to produce and absorb dopamine.
What can too much typical antipsychotics cause?
Positive symptoms.
What can too little typical antipsychotics cause?
Negative symptoms.
What are “depot” antipsychotics?
Long acting drugs used to manage people with severe issues in a community section.
How is a depot medication administered?
Injected deep into a muscle.
How long does a depot injection normally last?
1-4 weeks.
What advantage do atypical antipsychotics have over typical?
They work on both positive and negative symptoms, are easier to take, last longer, increase compliance, and have less side effects.
What are the side effects of atypical antipsychotics?
Hunger (leads to weight gain), sedation, and increased risk of diabetes.
What are mood stabilizers used for?
To treat bipolar or manic episodes.
What is a popular mood stabilizer?
Lithium.
How does lithium work?
Not fully understood, but it has been used effectively for over 70 years.
What is the therapeutic range of lithium?
2-4 weeks.
What are two main classes of anxiolytics?
Benzodiazepines and beta blockers.
How do benzodiazepines work?
They quickly slow down the central nervous system.
What are 4 examples of benzodiazepines? (and their drug names).
Ativan (lorazepam), Rivotril (dlonazepam), Valium (diazepam), Xanax (Alprazolam*).
How do benzodiazepines affect people?
Slower breathing, lowered heart rate, “fight or flight” feeling lessened.
What are beta blockers typically used for?
Cardiac and blood pressure management.
How do beta blockers reduce anxiety?
By blocking the effects of norepinephrine.
What are beta blockers useful for?
Short acting calming drugs for managing social phobias.
What are the risks of benzodiazepines?
They are highly addictive, build tolerance quickly, and are dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
What can result from abruptly stopping benzo use?
Seizures.
What can result from abruptly stopping antidepressant use?
Nausea, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, achiness.
What are the three classes of drug used to treat ADHD?
Methylphenidates (stimulant), amphetamines (stimulant), and atomexetine (non-stimulant).
What are two examples of methlphenidates?
Ritalin (short-acting) and Concerta (long-acting).
What are two examples of amphetamines?
Dexedrine (short-acting) and Adderall (long-acting).
What is an example of atomoxetines?
Strattera.
Which drug has been approved for bulimia?
Prozac.
What classes of drugs have been used to treat personality disorders?
Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.
What are some geriatric/paediatric considerations?
Less is needed to be effective, side effects can hit harder and faster, and drugs can impair cognitive functioning so close monitoring is required.
What is used to treat dementia?
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
Give 3 examples of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Reminyl (galatamine).
What do acetylcholinesterase inhibitors do?
They increase the amount of acetylcholine in the brain.
