Antidepressants and Anxiolytics

Question 1

List examples of monamine transmitters.

Answer 1

Serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine.

Question 2

What is an example of a condition caused by a dopamine deficiency?

Answer 2

Parkinson’s

Question 3

List some examples of treatments for depression

Answer 3

Counselling 
Pyschotherapy
MOAIs
Tricyclic drugs
SSRIs
Electroconvulsive therapy.

Question 4

Explain monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)

Answer 4

Non-selective blockers of the metabolism of all monamines.

Last line intervention for people with severe depression.

Question 5

What are examples of monamine oxidase inhibitors?

Answer 5

Phenelzine

Tranylcypromine.

Question 6

What are the side effects of MAOIs?

Answer 6

Significantly raises BP, should therefore not be used in conjunction with drugs that raise BP
Increase levels of tyramine- increasing noradrenaline and BP causing hypertension.
Cause serotonin syndrome when mixed with SSRIs.

Cause weight gain, oedema, sexual dysfunction and sedation.

Question 7

When should MAOIs not be used?

Answer 7

If pregnant.
Impaired renal or hepatic function
Hypertension.

Question 8

Explain Tricyclic antidepressants.

Answer 8

The most useful at treating major depressive episodes.

Non-selectively block the reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin.

Question 9

What are examples of tricyclic antidepressants.

Answer 9

Imipramine
Amitirtline
Doxepin

Question 10

What are the side effects of tricyclic antidepressants?

Answer 10

Weight gain
Sexual dysfunction
Inhibition of cytochrome P450. 
Sedation
Dry mouth
Constipation.

Question 11

When should tricyclic antidepressants not be used?

Answer 11

MI, Coronary heart disease.

Question 12

Explain SSRIs.

Answer 12

Selective Serotonin uptake inhibitors.

Therapeutic effect is delayed 2-4 weeks although the effect on serotonin is almost instant.

Question 13

What are examples of SSRIs?

Answer 13

Fluoxetine
Paroxetine
Citalopram.

Question 14

What are the adverse effects of SSRIs?

Answer 14

Dependence on withdrawal
Sexual dysfunction
When mixed with MAOIs cause serotonin syndrome.
Not to be mixed with warfarin.

Question 15

What are examples of miscellaneous antidepressants?

Answer 15

Bupropion.

Venlafaxine.

Question 16

List examples of mood stabiliser antipsychotics.

Answer 16

Lithium carbonate
Lithium citrate
Carbamazine
Valproate.

Question 17

Explain anxiolytics.

Answer 17

Non-specific CNS depressants used to treat anexiety.
Alleviate symptoms of distress but do not affect underlying cause.
Dose dependent
Allosteric inhibitor.

Question 18

Explain sedative hypnotics.

Answer 18

A type of anxiolytic.

Used to treat insomnia or used before surgery.

Question 19

What are examples of sedative-hypnotics.

Answer 19

Thiopental.
Secobarbital
Phenobarbital
Zolpidem

Question 20

What are the adverse effects of sedative hypnotics?

Answer 20

Avoid CNS depressants.
Check for suicidal tendencies.
Drowsiness
Dependence.

Question 21

Explain benzodiapans.

Answer 21

Type of anxiolytic.
Effective as does not over sedate and has low incidence tolerance with safe therapeutic index.
Used to treat anxiety and seizures.

Question 22

What are examples of benzodiazepines.

Answer 22

Diazepam-

drugs that end in pam.

Question 23

What are the adverse effects of benzodiazepines?

Answer 23

Renal and hepatic dysfunction.
Glaucoma
Pregnanexe
Date rape effects.

Question 24

Explain non-benzodiaepine anxiolytics.

Answer 24

Short term treatment used in conjunction with other drugs.

Question 25

What is an examples of non-benzodiazepines.

Answer 25

Busprione.

Question 26

What are the adverse effects of non-benzodiazepines?

Answer 26

Increase effects of CNS depressants and sedatives- never use with MAOIs. Causes fatal hypertension.

Question 27

Explain typical antipsychotics.

Answer 27

Two classes- phenothiazines and butyropenones. Relieve symptoms of positive schizophrenia. Act on dopamine.

Question 28

What are examples of typical antipsychotic neuroleptics?

Answer 28

CHlorpromazine Fluphenazine Haloperidol Loxapine End in ine.

Question 29

What are the adverse effects of typical antipsychotics.

Answer 29

``` Parkinsonism Tardive dyskinesia. Sedation Hypotension Impaired themoregulation. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome. ```

Question 30

Explain atypical antisychotis.

Answer 30

Treat positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Question 31

What are the adverse effects of atypical antipsychotics.

Answer 31

``` CNS depressents Hypotention Weight gain Glaucoma PU Urinary retention Photophobia. ```