Watts Antidepressants Flashcards
Types of depression
-Reactive (60%)
-Major depressive disorder (25%)
-Bipolar affective (15%)
Physiological symptoms of depression
-Decreased sleep
-Appetite changes
-Fatigue
-Psychomotor dysfunctions
-Menstrual irregularities
-Palpitations
-Constipation
-Headaches
-Nonspecific body aches
Psychological symptoms of depression
-Dysphoric mood
-Worthlessness
-Excessive guilt
-Loss of interest/pleasure in all or most activities
Cognitive symptoms of depression
-Decreased concentration
-suicidal ideation
What must be ruled out when diagnosing depression?
It is not caused by drugs, medical conditions, or bereavement
What drugs can cause drug-induced depression?
-Antihypertensive and Cardiovascular
-Sedative-hypnotics
-Anti-inflammatory and analgesics
-Steroids
-Anti-Parkinson
-Anti-neoplastic
-Neuroleptics
What is the biogenic amine hypothesis of depression?
-Reserpine causes depression by deleting NE and 5HT from vesicles
-Agents that increase 5HT and NE are effective for treating depression
-Genetic polymorphisms in SERT promoter
-Alteration in 5HT1A/2C and alpha2 receptors
What is the neuroendocrine hypothesis of depression?
-Changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
-Stress causes hypothalamus to release CRF
-CRF promotes release of ACTH from pituitary
-ACTH promotes release of cortisol from adrenal
-Overactivity of HPA and elevated CRF found in almost all depressed patients
-Overactivity of HPA and elevated CRF found in almost all depressed patients
-Overactivity of HPA may desensitize feedback response in hypothalamus an pituitary
-Elevated CRF causes insomnia, anxiety, and decreased appetite and libido
-Antidepressants and ECT reduce CRF levels
What is the neurotrophic hypothesis of depression?
-Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is critical in neural plasticity, resilience, neurogenesis
-Stress and pain decrease BDNF levels in animals
-Decrease in volume of hippocampus
-BDNF has antidepressant activity in animals
-Depressed patients have reduced BDNF levels
-Antidepressants increase BDNF levels and may increase hippocampal volume
Which hypothesis of depression is correct?
All hypotheses can explain depression
What are the main classes of antidepressants?
-MAOIs
-TCAs
-SSRIs
-SNRIs
-5-HT2 antagonists
-Tetracyclic and unicyclic antidepressants
Why does antidepressant therapy take 2-3 weeks?
-Neuroadaptive responses?
-Activation of presynaptic receptors?
-Presynaptic adaptation?
-Postsynaptic adaptation?
-No one really knows
Mechanism of action of MAOIs
-Norepinephrine and serotonin are normally degraded by monoamine oxidase
-Blocking this degradation causes the vesicles to increase the amount of NE and 5HT that are packaged
-These vesicles then release more NE and 5HT into the synapse
What are the non-selective MAO inhibitors?
-Phenelzine
-Tranylcypromine
What are the MAO-B selective inhibitors?
-Selegiline
What are the MAO-A selective inhibitors?
-Moclobemide
What class of MAO inhibitors is irreversible?
Non-selective MAO inhibitors
What are common side effects associated with MAO inhibitors?
-Headache
-Drowsiness
-Dry mouth
-Weight gain
-Orthostatic hypotension
-Sexual dysfunction
-Hypertensive crisis
What are common interactions with MAOIs?
-Cold preparations and diet pills
-TCAs, SSRIs, L-DOPA
-Foods with tyramine
-St. Johns Wort
Indications for TCAs
-Depression
-Panic disorder
-Chronic pain
-Enuresis (bed wetting)
Overdose/toxic effects of TCAs
-Extremely dangerous, depressed patients are more likely to be suicidal
-Patients are more likely to commit self-harm or suicide 2 weeks into treatment
Tertiary amine mechanism of action
-Inhibits both NE and 5HT reuptake via NET and SERT
-Also acts as antagonists on H1 histamine receptors, muscarinic receptors, and alpha1 receptors
Major side effects associated with tertiary amines
-Sedation
-Autonomic side effects
-Weight gain
-Conduction disturbances of the heart (not major)
What are the tertiary amines used?
-Imipramine
-Amitriptyline
-Clomipramine (used for OCD)
-Doxepin
What is imipramine metabolized to?
Desipramine
What is amitriptyline metabolized to?
Nortriptyline
What are the secondary amines used?
-Desipramine
-Nortriptyline
-Maprotiline (NET inhibitor)
Side effects of secondary amines
Less sedation, anticholinergic effects, autonomic effects, weight gain, and cardiovascular effects compared to tertiary amines