drug therapies

Question 1

what’s the most common treatment

Answer 1

antipsychotic drugs which reduce symptoms of psychotics

Question 2

how often are antipsychotic drugs administered and how often, what form

Answer 2

every 2-4 weeks in form of tablets or syrup, can be short term use or long term yse

Question 3

when were the first typical antipsychotic drugs made

Answer 3

1950

Question 4

first type of antipsychotic drug was

Answer 4

chlorpromazine, can be taken as tablets, syrup or injection, up to 1000mg (usually take 400-800mg)

Question 5

typical antipsychotics

Answer 5

work by acting as antagonists (chemicals which reduce the action of a neurotransmitter) in the dopamine system

Question 6

how does chlorpromazine work

Answer 6

affects dopamine levels by reducing the action of dopamine, when patient begins to take Chlorpromazine, dopamine levels build up but then production is reduced, this helps SZ patient as dopamine antagonist normalises neurotransmitters in areas of brain, reducing symptoms like hallucinations

-so at first it’s worse for the patient as dopamine levels is increasing but then production is reduced

Question 7

another way chlorpromazine can help SZ patients and non SZ patients

Answer 7

used for sedative purposes, mostly used when patients are first admitted to hospitals and are very anxious, syrup as it’s faster than tablets to be absorbed

Question 8

atypical antipsychotics

Answer 8

maintain or improve effectiveness of drugs in suppressing symptoms of psychosis and minimise side effects

Question 9

when were atypical antipsychotics removed and why

Answer 9

1970, people dying from a blood condition called Agranulo cytosis

Question 10

side effect of chlorpromazine

Answer 10

tardive dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movements usually in face)

Question 11

clozapine, how does it work

Answer 11

administered as injection, 300-400mg, atypical

• affects dopamine levels same was at chlorpromazine but acts on serotonin and glutamate receptors, helps SZ patient as it improve mood and reduces depression and anxiety which can then help cognitive functioning
• used to help suicidal patients

Question 12

besides from clozapine, another form of atypical antipsychotics

Answer 12

risperidone, 1990s, developed to be as affective as clozapine without side effects, 4-8 mg, tablet syrup or injection every 2 weeks

Question 13

side effect of risperidone

Answer 13

high temp, delirium, coma but THIS IS RARE