Anxiolytic & Hypnotic (General)

Question 1

Define Anxiety

Answer 1

Disorders of fear that involve a feeling of uneasiness, nervousness, etc.

Question 2

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer 2

Ongoing state of excessive anxiety that lacks clear focus or reason

Question 3

Social Anxiety Disorder

Answer 3

Fear of being with and interacting with people

Question 4

Phobias

Answer 4

Strong fears of specific objects/situations

Question 5

Panic Disorder

Answer 5

Sudden attacks of overwhelming fear accompanied with somatic symptoms

Question 6

Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder

Answer 6

Anxiety that is triggered by recall of past stressful experiences

Question 7

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Answer 7

Compulsive ritualistic behaviour driven by irrational anxiety

Question 8

Anxiety and _______ have a strong link/relationship

Answer 8

Anxiety and Depression

Question 9

Benzodiazepines (Structure)

Answer 9

Class of drugs that contains a benzene ring fused with a diazepine ring

Question 10

Benzodiazepines (Used to Treat)

Answer 10

Treats Acute Anxiety

(During medical procedure, also treats insomnia)

Question 11

Benzodiazepines (Duration of Action)

Answer 11

4-48 Hours

Short to Long Lasting Effects

Question 12

Benzodiazepines (Short Acting Effect)

Answer 12

Short acting effects used for their hypnotic effects

Question 13

Benzodiazepines (Mechanism)

Answer 13

Positive Allosteric Modulator
Selective for GABA(A) Receptors

Binds to GABA Receptor (does not bind to the same binding site of GABA)
Facilitates Cl- Channel allowing more Cl- in, (Increases frequency of channel opening)

Question 14

GABA(A) Receptors (Sleep Effects are Mediated By?)

Answer 14

Alpha 1 Subunit induces sleep

Question 15

GABA(A) Receptors (Anxiolytic Effects are Mediated By?)

Answer 15

Alpha 2 Subunit mediates the main anxiolytic effect

Question 16

Benzodiazepines (Effects)

Answer 16

Reduces anxiety and aggression

Induces sleep

Anticonvulsant Effects

Anterograde Amnesia

Question 17

Anterograde Amnesia

Answer 17

Prevents formation of memory of events when under Benzodiazepines

Question 18

Benzodiazepines (Unwanted Effects)

Answer 18

Drowsiness/Sedation
Amnesia
Impaired Coordination
Enhanced depressant effect of alcohol
Can be Abused

Acute Toxicity

Question 19

Benzodiazepines (Acute Toxcity)

Answer 19

Little risk of overdose, prolonged dosages will not cause serious depression of respiratory and cardiovascular

Question 20

Benzodiazepines (Alcohol)

Answer 20

If Benzodiazepines are taken with alcohol it can cause life threatening respiratory depression

Question 21

Postsynaptic 5-HT(1A)

Answer 21

Receptors are highly expressed in parts of brain related to emotional behaviour (Limbic System)

Question 22

Presynaptic 5-HT(1A)

Answer 22

Autoreceptors are inhibitory

Question 23

Buspirone (Mechanism of Action)

Answer 23

Acts as a partial agonist and binds to 5-HT1A Autoreceptors leading to an initial inhibition
Over time HT1A Autoreceptors will be desensitized to overactivation and lose their inhibitory effects –> Thus, Enhancing 5-HT Release

Question 24

Buspirone (Used to Treat)

Answer 24

Treats Generalized Anxiety Disorders (Takes a while to produce anxiolytic effect, thus, not used to treat acute anxiety)

Question 25

Buspirone (Unwanted Effects)

Answer 25

Dizziness Headache Nausea

Question 26

Antidepressants (What kind of drugs)

Answer 26

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Question 27

Antidepressants (Effects)

Answer 27

Treats Chronic Anxiety Reduce depression associated with anxiety (Takes weeks to produce anxiolytic effects) --> Mechanism is similar to Buspirone

Question 28

Beta-Blockers

Answer 28

Propranolol Treats somatic symptoms of anxiety Reduces Tachycardia, Tremors, Sweating

Question 29

Insomnia (Treated by what class of drugs? How long do symptoms last?)

Answer 29

Hypnotic Drugs Can be transient, long-term, chronic Related to anxiety and depression

Question 30

Drugs to treat insomina

Answer 30

Benzodiazepine like drugs Sedating antihistamines (First-gen) Melatonin

Question 31

Mechanism of Benzodiazepine-Like Drugs

Answer 31

Zolpidem Not structurally similar to BZD but, have a similar mechanism where they bind to GABA(A1) Receptors (Which induces sleep)

Question 32

Mechanism of First-Generation Antihistamines

Answer 32

Diphenhydramine CNS Depressive Effect Blockage of neural M1 Muscarinic Receptors

Question 33

When is Melatonin Secreted? Why?

Answer 33

Secretion is high at night to help you fall asleep

Question 34

Melatonin Receptors. Where are they located?

Answer 34

MT1 and MT2 Located in Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Question 35

MT1 Activation Results in What?

Answer 35

Inhibits neuronal firing within SCN

Question 36

MT2 Activation Results in What?

Answer 36

Phase shifts circadian rhythm produced by SCN