Psychpharmacology

Question 1

What psychiatric drugs are used and what are some examples?

Answer 1

Antidepressants:

• tricyclic acids (effective but potentially unacceptable SEs, have tertiary eg IMIPRAMINE, DOXEPIN and secondary eg DESIPRAMINE)
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (very effective)
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors eg paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine
• serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors E.g. venlafaxine, duloxetine
• novel eg mirtazapine, buproprion

Mood stabilisers
Lithium
Anticonvulsants eg valproic acid, carbamazepine, lamotrigine

Antipsychotics: typicals (D2DRA) E.g. fluphenazine, haloperidol, pimozide & atypicals E.g. serotonin, risperidone, olanzapine, clozapine

Anxiolytics eg buspirone, benzodiazepines

Question 2

What are the adverse effects of psychiatric drugs?

Answer 2

TCAs: sedation, weight gain, dry eyes, constipation, delirium, sexual dysfunction
MAOIs: weight gain, sedation, sleep disturbance, can cause serotonin syndrome
SSRIs: GI upset, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, anxiety, discontinuation syndrome
Lithium: GI distress
Anticonvulsants: N+V, weight gain, sedation, tremor, hair loss, rash
AntiPsych: tardive dyskinesia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, extrapyramidal S/Es