Study Guide 3

Question 1

Why is pharmacotherapy the mainstay for treatment of bipolar disorder?

Answer 1

Bipolar Disorder has a strong genetic component.

Question 2

What is rapid cycling as what class of drugs can contribute to rapid cycling.

Answer 2

I’m bipolar disorder rapid cycling is switching rapidly between manic and depressive states. Antidepressants may contribute to this.

Question 3

What are the 3 broad categories of medications for bipolAr disorder?

Answer 3

Mood Stabilizers
Anticonvulsants
Antipsychotics

Question 4

What are the 1st line agents for bipolar disorder?

Answer 4

Lithium and Divalproex

Question 5

Since lithium’s therapeutic dose is very close to it’s toxic dose it is considered a drug with a —-?

Answer 5

Narrow Therapeutic Window

Question 6

What are the side effects of lithium?

Answer 6

Gastrointestinal 
Neuromuscular
Endocrine
Renal
Hematological
Weight Gain

Question 7

What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?

Answer 7

A form of toxic epidermal necrolysis, is a life-threatening skin condition, in which cell death causes the epidermis to separate from the dermis. The best known causes are certain medications such as lamotrigine.

Question 8

What is agranulocytosis?

Answer 8

Can be caused by the antidepressant Mirtazapine or the antipsychotic Clozapine.

An acute condition involving a severe and dangerous leukopenia (lowered white blood cell count).

Question 9

What is aplastic anemia?

Answer 9

Can be caused by Carbemazepine used for treatment of Bipolar.

A rare disease in which the bone marrow and the hematopoietic stem cells that reside there are damaged. This causes a deficiency of all three blood cell types (pancytopenia): red blood cells (anemia), white blood cells (leukopenia), and platelets (thrombocytopenia).