Psychopharmacology Flashcards
(42 cards)
Drug Metabolism
The process of breaking down drugs into metabolites for excretion from the body; usually happens in the liver.
Synapse
The space between neurons in the brain.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical that moves from one neuron to the next.
ex) serotonin, dopamine, noreprinephine
Scheduling of Controlled Substances
Schedule I - no current legal medical use; high potential for physical and/or psychological dependence; high risk for misuse
ex) heroin, marijuana, bath salts
Schedule II - restricted use; high potential for physical/psychological dependence and misuse.
ex) fentanyl, morphine, methadone
Schedule III - accepted legal medical use; low/moderate physical dependence, moderate/high psychological dependence;
moderate risk for misuse.
Schedule IV - accepted legal medical use; low potential for dependence; low risk for misuse
ex) benzos
Schedule V - accepted legal medical use; limited potential for dependence; low risk for misuse
Schedule VI - legend drugs; any drug that is not considered to be a controlled substance
Classification of Common Drugs
1) Opioids
ex) morphine, fentanyl, heroin
2) Stimulants
ex) amphetamine, cocaine, bath salts
3) Hallucinogens
ex) PCP, LSD, ketamine
4) Inhalants
5) Cannabinoids
Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
- agitation, muscle aches, anxiety, runny nose, sweating, yawning, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure
- sometimes described at the worse flu people have ever had
- treated in medical aspect. ex) sometimes given meds for diarrhea, etc.
Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms
- anxiety, increased appetite, agitation, chills, problems concentrating, depression, insomnia, lethargy, mood swings, restlessness
- cocaine withdrawal can cause profound depression that can last for months; cocaine withdrawal is sometimes treated with antidepressants.
Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms
decreased appetite, mood changes, irritability, insomnia, headaches, sweating, chills, upset stomach
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
- anxiety, insomnia, tremors, nausea/vomiting, headache, confusion, delirium tremens (DTs)/seizures (life -threatening)
- each time you have DTs, you are more at risk for having DTs every single time.
- drinking a pint of alcohol for 14 days puts you at serious risk of going through withdrawal
Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms
anxiety, insomnia, seizures (life-threatening)
4 Types of Antidepressants
1) Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- most common
2) Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
3) Novel Antidepressants
- do not impact serotonin
4) Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Very sedating; not used often
- All equally effective for pain.
Examples of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Fluoxetine (Prozac) Citalopram (Celexa) Escitalopram (Lexapro) Paroxetine (Paxil) Sertraline (Zoloft) Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
Examples of Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta) --also used for pain Venlafaxine (Effexor) Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) Levomilnacipran (Fetzima) Milnacipran (Savella)
Examples of Novel Antidepressants
Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Mirtazapine (Remeron) Trazodone (Desyrel) - sedative; helps with sleep Vilazodone (Viibryd) Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
Examples of Tricyclic Antidepressants
Amitriptyline (Evavil) Nortriptyline (Pamelor) Imipramine (Tofranil) Desipramine (Norpramin) Doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan)
What to know about antidepressants:
- take several weeks of routine dosing to work appropriately
- “boxed” warning for clients under 24 years old
- should not be abruptly discontinued
- side effects can keep people from staying adherent - depends on drug, but can have sexual dysfunction (those who take SSRIs), weight gain/loss, insomnia, bleeding risk, seizures (bupropion)
Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome
Occurs with every antidepressant - looks like recurrence of depression, but happens within hours to days after discontinued use. May be irritable, agitated, anxious, and have difficulty sleeping.
- Does not happen with Prozac, but does with every other drug.
Anti-Anxiety Medications
- used to treat: anxiety disorder panic disorder social anxiety disorder OCD PTSD
- SSRIs/SNRIs - antidepressants are first choice medications for anxiety disorders
- Non-drug treatment is needed along with medication (ex. therapy)
- Busprione (Buspar) - medication that is only really useful to treat generalized anxiety - often takes several weeks to work - has a max dosage.
OCD and PTSD
- Commonly, meds do not fully treat symptoms.
- Psychotherapy and CBT is used with meds
- Nightmares from PTSD may be treated with Prazosin, some atypical antipsychotics, and Topiramate
- Some atypical antipsychotics may be used as adjunctive therapy in OCD
Benzodiazepines
- the most effective!
- very effective for short-term treatment and as-needed for anxiety/panic disorders
- use is limited because of their abuse potential
- withdrawal effects after long-term (weeks) use can be severe and life-threatening
- can take several weeks/months to appropriately discontinue use
- used in hospital setting for alcohol withdrawal and are very effective in decreasing symptoms and DTs
- Not for PTSD!!!!
What to know about antipsychotics:
- for symptom management only!
- used to treat psychotic disorders (schizophrenia), as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder, and as adjuncts to antidepressants for major depression, and agitation
- for schizophrenia: can only treat positive symptoms
- hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and behavior
- NOT effective for negative of “cognitive” symptoms of schizophrenia
- social isolation, lack of motivation, apathy, inattention
- Abrupt discontinuation may cause withdrawal and relapse
- all antipsychotics have different receptor pharmacology and ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE!
- If dx with schizophrenia, you do not have to be prescribed an antipsychotic
- Some meds are extremely expensive
Two Types of Antipsychotics
1) Conventional/Typical Antipsychotics (older ones)
2) Atypical Antipsychotics (newer ones)
Examples of Conventional/Typical Antipsychotics (older)
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) - max dose is 600 mg/day - 1st choice Haloperidol (Haldol) Perphenazine (Trilafon) Thiothixene (Navane) Fluphenazine (Prolixin) Loxapine (Loxitane) Thioridazine (Mellaril) Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
- Older antipsychotics are more likely to cause extrapyramidal (movement) side effects and can make negative symptoms of amotivation and apathy worse;
- Equally effective for positive symptoms as the newer antipsychotics
- All are generic, so less expensive!
Examples of Atypical Antipsychotics (newer)
Aripiprazole (Abilify) Brexpiprazole (Rexulti) Clozapine (Clozaril) - most effective but causes weight gain and a lot of other side effects. Requires a lot of monitoring! Lurasidone (Latuda) Paliperidone (Invega) Risperidone (Risperdal) Asenapine (Saphris) Cariprazine (Vraylar) Iloperidone (Fanapt) Olanzapine (Zyprexa) Quetiapine (Seroquel) Ziprasidone (Geodon)
- less likely to cause movement side effects, except Risperdal and Invega, but more likely to cause significant weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol (metabolic syndrome)
- do not worsen negative symptoms
- these are preferred for initial treatment