Section III. Pharmacological Treatment Flashcards

1
Q

List first line antidepressants [15]:

A
  1. Agomelatine
  2. Bupropion
  3. Citalopram
  4. Desvenlafaxine
  5. Duloxetine
  6. Escitalopram
  7. Fluoxetine
  8. Fluvoxamine
  9. Mianserin
  10. Milnacipran
  11. Mirtazepine
  12. Paroxetine
  13. Sertraline
  14. Venlafaxine
  15. Vortioxetine
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2
Q

List 2nd line antidepressants [7]:

A
  1. Amitriptyline
  2. Levomilnacipran
  3. Moclobemide
  4. Quetiapine
  5. Selegiline transdermal
  6. Trazodone
  7. Vilazodone
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3
Q

List 3rd line antidepressants [3]:

A
  1. Phenlezine
  2. Tranylcypromine
  3. Reboxetine
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4
Q

Poor response to medication linked to [3]:

A
  1. increasing age
  2. Presence of anxiety
  3. Long episode duration
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5
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with anxious distress?

A

Antidepressant with efficacy in GAD (no difference between SSRIs, SNRIs, and Bupropion - Level 2 evidence)

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6
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with catatonic features?

A

Benzos (Level 3)

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7
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with melancholic features?

A

No specific antidepressants show superiority (Level 2)

Studies done with TCAs & SNRIs

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8
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with atypical features?

A

No specific antidepressants show superiority (Level 2)

Older studies show MAOIs superior to TCAs

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9
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with psychotic features?

A

Use antipsychotic + antidepressant co-treatment (Level 1)

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10
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with mixed features?

A

Lurasidone (Level 2)
Ziprasidone (Level 3)

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11
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with seasonal patter?

A

No antidepressants have shown superiority (Level 2 & 3)

Can consider SSRIs, agomelatine, Bupropion, moclobemide

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12
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with cognitive dysfunction?

A

Vortioxetine (Level 1)
Bupropion (Level 2)
Duloxetine (Level 2)
SSRIs (Level 2)
Moclobemide (Level 3)

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13
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with sleep disturbances?

A

Agomelatine (Level 1)
Mirtazapine (Level 2)
Quetiapine (Level 2)
Trazodone (Level 2)

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14
Q

What is the suggested treatment for MDD with somatic symptoms?

A

Duloxetine for pain (Level 1)
Duloxetine for energy (Level 2)
Other SNRIs for pain (Level 2)
Bupropion for fatigue (Level 1)
SSRIs for fatigue (Level 2)

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15
Q

Which medication results in improved processing speed, executive control, and cognitive control?

A

Vortioxetine

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16
Q

Which antidepressants show superior response in treating MDD?

A

Escitalopram (Level 1)
Mirtazepine (Level 1)
Sertraline (Level 1)
Venlafaxine (Level 1)
Agomelatine (Level 2)
Citalopram (Level 2)

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17
Q

Which antidepressants show (low quality) evidence of lower risk for sexual side effects [5]?

A

Agomelatine
Bupropion
Mirtazepine
Vilazodone
Vortioxetine

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18
Q

which medication might have increased risk of suicide [ Black Box morning]?

A

Paroxetine

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19
Q

what % of adults had reduced risk of suicide went on SSRI?

A

reduced by:
- 40% in adults
- 50% among elderly people

20
Q

Exposure to SSRI almost _______ the risk of suicide and suicide attempts among teenagers

Why?

A

Doubles

Possibly because only the most severely ill teens are prescribed antidepressants to begin with

21
Q

Which antidepressants require monitoring for prolonged QTC?

A
  1. Citalopram
  2. Escitalopram
  3. Quetiapine
22
Q

but our normal ranges for QTC?

A

normal QT interval is:
- less than 450 ms in men
- less than 460 ms in women

23
Q

what type of medication which increased risk of falls and fractures?

A

SSRI

24
Q

which time frame is a person at increased risk for falls and fractures with an SSRI?

A

Highest risk is in the first six weeks of SSRI exposure

25
Q

what antidepressant is hyponatraemia often associated with, particularly in elderly patients?

A

SSRI

26
Q

How do SSRIs affect bleeding and clotting?

A

SSRIs inhibit platelet aggregation by altering platelet serotonin receptors

Therefore, modest increase in risk of GI bleeding

27
Q

What common OTC medication increases risk of G.I. bleeding when also on SSRIs?

A

NSAIDs

28
Q

Should you regularly monitor LFTs when on antidepressant medication?

For which medication in particular should you consider monitoring LFTs?

A

No, elevation of liver enzymes is uncommon

However, agomelatine can potentially elevate liver enzymes and in some cases, lead to toxic hepatitis

29
Q

True or false, CANMAT recommends routine use of pharmacogenetics testing

A

False.

30
Q

How do you define “early improvement” when starting an antidepressant?

A

> 20-30% reduction in symptoms from baseline in a depression rating scale after 2 to 4 weeks

31
Q

how soon might a patient show positive response and even remission with early improvement after starting an antidepressant?

A

6 to 12 weeks

32
Q

when should you increase the antidepressant dose for “non-improvers”?

A

2 to 4 weeks if medication is tolerated

33
Q

what are the two faces of depression treatment and their definitions?

A
  1. Acute treatment [getting to symptomatic remission]
  2. Maintenance phase [preventing relapse and recurrence]
34
Q

What duration of time do the guidelines recommend to continue treatment?

A

And he treated with anti-depressants for 6 to 9 months after teething symptomatic remission

However, those with risk factors for recurrence should have antidepressant treatment extended to 2 years or more

35
Q

What are the symptoms of discontinuation syndrome/symptoms?

A

FINISH

Flu-like sxs
Insomnia
Nausea
Imbalance
Sensory disturbances
Hyperarousal

36
Q

What factors should you consider to maintain treatment with antidepressants for longer than two years? [6]

A
  1. Frequent, recurrent episodes
  2. Severe episodes [psychosis, severe impairment, suicidality]
  3. Chronic episodes
  4. Presence of comorbid psychiatric or other medical conditions
  5. Presence of residual symptoms
  6. Difficult-to-treat episodes
37
Q

which medication’s are most likely to be associated with discontinuation effects? [2

A
  1. Immediate release paroxetine
  2. Immediate release Venlafaxine
38
Q

Which medication’s are least likely to result in discontinuation syndrome and why? [2]

A
  1. Fluoxetine
  2. Vortioxetine

Due to long half-life

39
Q

what is considered partial response to anti-depressants?

A

Partial response is 25 to 49% reduction in symptoms scores

40
Q

what is considered no response to antidepressants?

A

Less than 25% reduction in symptoms scores is considered a no response outcome

41
Q

List the first line adjunctive medications for treatment of depression [3]

A

Aripiprazole
Quetiapine
Risperidone

** all level 1 evidence

42
Q

List the second line recommended medication’s for adjunct treatment of depression [7]

A
  1. Brexpiprazole (level 1)
  2. Bupropion (level 2)
  3. Lithium (level 2)
  4. Mirtazepine (level 2)
  5. Modafinil (level 2)
  6. Olanzapine (level 1)
  7. Triiodothyronine (level 2)
43
Q

List the third line recommended objective agents for treatment of depression [4]

A
  1. Other antidepressants (level 3)
  2. Other stimulants (methylphendiate, lisdexamphetamine, etc.) (level 3)
  3. TCAs (level 2)
  4. Ziprasidone (level 3)
44
Q

In the CANMAT guidelines, what level 1 evidence medication is suggested as an adjunct for non-response depression treatment?

A

Ketamine

45
Q

True or false – adjunctive aripiprazole was inferior to antidepressant switch on efficacy outcomes, including response and remission

A

False - adjunct of aripiprazole was superior to anti-depressants which

46
Q

What 5 steps should you take when considering switching to another antidepressant?

A
  1. It is the first antidepressant trial
  2. There are poorly tolerated side effects to the initial antidepressant
  3. There is no response [<25% improvement] to the initial antidepressant
  4. There is more time to wait for a response [less severe, less functional impairment]
  5. Patient prefers to switch to another antidepressant
47
Q

What are the factors to consider when considering adding an adjunctive medication for treatment of depression [6]?

A
  1. There have been 2+ antidepressant trials
  2. The initial antidepressant is well tolerated
  3. There is partial improvement [> 25% improvement] to the initial antidepressant
  4. There are specific residual symptoms or side effects to the initial antidepressant that can be targeted
  5. There is less time to wait for a response [more severe, more functional impairment]
  6. Patient prefers to add on another medication