Psychopharm Flashcards
(129 cards)
What are HAM side effects?
What drugs cause HAM side effects?
Antihistamine (sedation, weight gain)
Antiadrenergic (orthostatic hypotension, cardiac abnormalities, sexual dysfunction)
Antimuscarinic (dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation, exacerbation of neurocognitive disorders [eg dementia], precipitation of narrow-angle glaucoma)
Found in TCAs and low-potency antipsychotics (eg chlorpromazine [thorazine], thioridazine [mellaril])
Characteristics of serotonin syndrome
Confusion, flushing, diaphoresis, tremor, myoclonic jerks, hyperthermia, hypertonicity, rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, death
- Occurs when there is too much serotonin, classically when SSRIs and MAOIs are combined.
- As this combo is rarely seen in practice anymore, serotonin syndrome is more commonly seen when a patient is prescribed multiple medications with serotonergic activity (eg SSRIs/SNRIs, trazodone, Tramadol, triptans, dextromethorphan, St. Johns wort, ondansetron)
- Tx: stop meds, supportive care
Hypertensive crisis
Caused by buildup of stored catecholamines, triggered by combination of MAOIs with tyramine-rich foods (eg red wine, cheese, chicken liver, cured meats) or with sympathomimetics.
Extrapyramidal side effects
Parkinsonism - masklike face, cogwheel rigidity, bradykinesia, pill-rolling tremor
Akathisia - restlessness, need to move, agitation
Dystonia - sustained, painful contractions of muscles of neck, tongue, eyes, diaphragm
- Occur more frequently with high-potency, typical (first gen) antipsychotics (eg Haldol, prolixin, stelaine, orap), but can be seen with atypical
- Reversible
- occur within hours to days
In rare cases, can be life-threatening (eg dystonia of diaphragm)
Hyperprolactinemia
Occurs with high-potency, typical first gen antipsychotics and risperidone.
Tardive dyskinesia
Choreoatetoid muscle movements, usually of mouth and tongue (can affect extremities as well)
- Occurs after years of antipsychotic use (more likely with high-potency, first-generation)
- Usually irreversible
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Mental status changes, fever, tachycardia, HTN, tremor, elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK), “lead pipe” rigidity
- Can be caused by any antipsychotic after short or long time (increased with high-potency, typical antipsychotics)
- Medical emergency with up to 20% mortality rate
CYP450 inducers
Tobacco (1A2)
Carbamazepine (1A2, 2C9, 3A4)
Barbiturates (2C9)
St. John’s wort (2C19, 3A4)
CYP450 inhibitors
Fluvoxamine (1A2, 2C19, 3A4) Fluoxetine (2C19, 2C9, 2D6) Paroxetine (2D6) Duloxetine (2D6) Sertraline (2D6)
List of SSRIs
Fluoxetine (Prozac) Sertraline (Zoloft) Paroxetine (Paxil) Fluvoxamine (Luvox) Citalopram (Celexa) Escitalopram (Lexapro)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
SSRI
- longest half life, with active metabolites
- no need to taper
- safe in pregnancy, approved for use in children and adolescents
- common side effects: insomnia, anxiety, sexual dysfunction)
- can elevate levels of antipsychotics, leading to increased effects
Sertraline (Zoloft)
SSRI
- higher risk for GI disturbances
- very few drug interactions
- other common side effects: insomnia, anxiety, sexual dysfunction
Paroxetine (Paxil)
SSRI
- potent inhibitor of CYP26, which can lead to several drug-drug interactions
- common side effects: anticholinergic effects eg sedation, constipation, weight gain) and sexual dysfunction
- short half-life leading wo withdrawal phenomena if not taken consistently
Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
SSRI
- Currently approved only for use in OCD
- Common side effects: nausea and vomiting
- Multiple drug interactions due to CYP inhibition
Citalopram (Celexa)
SSRI
- Fewest drug-drug interactions
- Dose-dependent QTc prolongation
Escitalopram (Lexapro)
SSRI
- Levo-enantiomer of citalopram; similar efficacy, possibly fewer side effects
- Dose dependent QTc prolongation
How to address the sexual side effects of SSRIs
Sexual side effects of SSRIs can be treated by either reducing the dose (if clinically appropriate), changing to a non-SSRI antidepressant, augmenting the regimen with bupropion, or, in men, by adding meds like sildenafil
SSRI most associated with weight gain?
Most weight-neutral SSRIs?
weight gain: Paxil
weight neutral: fluoxetine and sertraline
Side effects of SSRIs
Common, resolving within a few days:
- GI disturbance (nausea and diarrhea; giving with food can help)
- Insomnia; also vivid dreams, often resoles over time
- Headache
- Weight changes (either up or down)
Other side effects:
- Sexual dysfunction (30-40%): decreased libido, anorgasmia, delayed ejaculation. These may occur weeks to months after taking an SSRI and typically do not resolve
- Restlessness: akathisia-like state
- Serotonin syndrome: Caused by excess of serotonin in body. Can result form a single agent or multiple agents in combo (eg triptans used with SSRIs)
- Hyponatremia (rare)
- Seizures: rate of approximately 0.2%, slightly lower than TCAs
SNRIs
Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
Venlafaxine (Effexor)
SNRI
- Often used for depressive disorders, anxiety disorders (like GAD), and neuropathic pain
- low drug interaction potential
- Etended release form allows for once-daily dosing
- Side effect profile similar to SSRIs, with the exception of increased BP in higher doses. Do not use in patients with untreated or labile BP
- New form, desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) is the active metabolite of venlafaxine; expensive and no known benefit over venlafaxine
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
SNRI
- Often used for people with depression, neuropathic pain, and in fibromyalgia
- Side effects similar to SSRIs, but more dry mouth and constipation relating to neuroepinephrine effects
- Hepatotoxicity may be more likely in patients with liver disease or in heavy alcohol use, so LFTs should be monitored as indicated.
Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
NE-DA reuptake inhibitor
Lack of sexual side effects
Some efficacy in treatment of adult ADHD
Effective for smoking cessation
Weight neutral
Side effects include increased anxiety, as well as increased risk of seizures and psychosis at high doses
Contraindicated in patients with epilepsy or active eating disorders and in those currently on an MAOI. Use with caution with agents that also lower seizure threshold (stimulants)
Serotonin Receptor Antagonists and Agonists
Trazodone (Desyrel) and Nefazodone (Serzone)
- Useful in treatment of major depression, major depression with anxiety, and insomnia (secondary to sedative effects)
- Do not have sexual side effects of SSRIs and do not affect REM sleep
- Side effects: nausea, dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, sedation, priapism (especially trazodone)
- Due to orthostatic hypotension at higher doses, trazodone is not frequently used as an antidepressant. Commonly used to treat insomnia when initiating an SSRI (until insomnia improves as the depression resolves)
- Nefazodone carries a black box warning for rare but serious liver failure (1 per 250,000-300,000 people) and is rarely used