Stress: Drug Therapy

Question 1

What are the main ways of drug therapy?

Answer 1

Benzodiazepines and Beta Blockers

Question 2

What are beta blockers?

Answer 2

Acts directly on SNS and reduce arousal of fight or flight response of SAM axis and HPA axis, by acting on CNS and ANS.
Reduce HR and lower BP and act on the body not brain.

Question 3

What are benzodiazepines?

Answer 3

Bz’s such as Valium increase the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA, which decreases serotonin activity. Low serotonin reduces arousal/stress. Centrally acting drugs affect the brain systems.

Question 4

What is GABA?

Answer 4

Is the body’s own anxiety-relieving neurotransmitter.

Question 5

What are the effects of benzodiazepines?

Answer 5

• Slows the CNS
• Increase GABA
• Decrease serotonin

Question 6

What research is used for BZ’s

Answer 6

Kahn (1986) - followed nearly 250 patients over 8 weeks and found that BZ’s were significantly superior to a placebo.