Psychotropic Medication

Question 1

Antidepressants

Answer 1

Although antidepressants begin to raise the levels of neurotransmitters in the synapse within several hours of administration, it may take anywhere from 2~8 weeks to see their full benefit.

***Sudden discontinuation of short-acting serotonin reuptake inhibitors may cause flu-like symptoms.&raquo_space;» This phenomenon is referred to as a “discontinuation syndrome”

Question 2

Serotonin

Answer 2

Potential life-threatening condition with symptoms of tachycardia, diaphoresis, mydriasis hypertension, rhabdomyolysis, and hyperthermia.

Question 3

Tramado, an analgesic

Answer 3

Raise serotonin but not psychiatric drugs.

Question 4

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA)

Answer 4

They delay or prevent the releasing nerve cell from reuptake inactivation of the neurotransmitter. As a result, serotonin or norepinephrine has a greater effect on the target neuron.

• Also used for Anxiety disorder; panic disorder; OCD
• For NONPSYCHIATRIC illness: Enuresis; pain medicine; sleep disorder

Three problems with this category of medication:

1) as”dirty” medicines, they have effects not only on serotonin and norepinephrine receptors but also on histamine (H-1), cholinergic, and alpha-adrenergic receptors.
*** These multiple receptor action increase side effects that reduce tolerability: weight gain, sedation, constipation, blurred vision, and mild cognitive slowing

2) TCA interacts in complex ways with other commonly prescribed medications. These drug-drug interactions can raise severe problems that can be difficult to anticipate. Many TCA drugs are metabolized by cytochrome P450-2D6 enzyme.

3) TCA affect sodium channel transmission in the heart. ( This is the mechanism that allows the heart muscle to recover after each heartbeat) &raquo_space; Overdose on as little as a week’s worth of tricyclic medication can lead to a fatal cardia arrhythmia.