Lange Psychopharmacology

Question 1

What is cyproheptadine?

Answer 1

5-HT2a antagnoist sometimes used in the most severe cases of serotonin syndrome

Question 2

What class of medications would be most effective in treating depression with hypersomnia, weight gain, and mood reactivity?

Answer 2

this is atypical depression. MAOIs are better than SSRIs and TCAs at treating atypical depression, but SSRIs are still usually firstline treatment because they are safer

Question 3

Why should low-potency antipsychotics be avoided in alcohol withdrawal/

Answer 3

may actually lower the seizure threshold

Question 4

How do you treat depression with psychotic reatures?

Answer 4

1) combination of antidepressant and antipsychotic

2) ECT

Question 5

Because the therapeutic index of lithium is so narrow, dehydration can lead to lithium toxicity, which consists of

Answer 5

(levels > 1.2) tremor, nausea, diarrhea, ataxia. Later seizures and then acute renal failure