Psychotropic Medication

Question 1

What are psychotropic medications?

Answer 1

Medications that affect neurotransmitters.

Question 2

Which neurotransmitters do psychotropic meds normally affect?

Answer 2

GABA, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin receptors.

Question 3

What are psychotropic medications most often used to treat?

Answer 3

Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, and sleep disruptions.

Question 4

What percentage of Canadians are unsure of whether they would socialize with a friend who had a mental illness?

Answer 4

42%

Question 5

What percentage of Canadians are unlikely to enter a marriage with someone who had a mental illness?

Answer 5

55%

Question 6

In any given year, what proportion of adult Canadians will experience a mental health or addiction problem?

Answer 6

1 in 5.

Question 7

What percentage of the general population has expressed the need for mental health intervention in the last 12 months?

Answer 7

10.1%

Question 8

Are side effects universal?

Answer 8

No, everyone experiences them differently.

Question 9

Most side effects are what?

Answer 9

Short lived and treated symptomatically.

Question 10

What are the 4 main classes of psychotropic medications?

Answer 10

Antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anxiolytics.

Question 11

What are two types of anti-depressants?

Answer 11

SSRIs and SNRIs.

Question 12

What does SSRI stand for?

Answer 12

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Question 13

What does SNRI stand for?

Answer 13

Serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

Question 14

What are 5 examples of SSRIs?

Answer 14

Celexa, Cirpralex, Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil.

Question 15

What are 3 examples of SNRIs?

Answer 15

Effexor, Cymbalta, and Prestiq.

Question 16

What are SNRIs used for?

Answer 16

Often used for depression and anxiety. It treats the general malaise associated with depressive symptoms.

Question 17

What is one of the most common side effects of SSRIs and SNRIs?

Answer 17

Sexual side effects. Both erectile dysfunction and decreased libido.

Question 18

What are some side effects of SNRIs and SSRIs? (6)

Answer 18

Nausea, headache, increased BP, fatigue, sedation, and dizziness.

Question 19

What are atypical antidepressants?

Answer 19

Different mechanisms of action than SNRI/SSRIs; they work on dopamine receptors.

Question 20

Where are atypical antidepressants most commonly used?

Answer 20

Geriatric care.

Question 21

What are three examples of atypical antidepressants?

Answer 21

Wellbutrin, Remeron, and Trazodone.

Question 22

What is a therapeutic range?

Answer 22

The time it takes a drug to take full effect.

Question 23

What is the therapeutic range of most antidepressants?

Answer 23

4-6 weeks.

Question 24

What happens when the therapeutic range is reached?

Answer 24

Other side effects are minimal and manageable.

Question 25

What are the two classes of antipsychotics?

Answer 25

Typical (1st generation), and atypical (2nd generation).

Question 26

What are 4 examples of typical antipsychotics?

Answer 26

Haldol, Largactil, Nozinan, and Loxapine.

Question 27

What are 4 examples of atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 27

Abilify, Clozapine, Seroquel, Risperidone, and Zyprexa.

Question 28

What do most antipsychotics work to do?

Answer 28

They affect the brain's ability to produce and absorb dopamine.

Question 29

What can too much typical antipsychotics cause?

Answer 29

Positive symptoms.

Question 30

What can too little typical antipsychotics cause?

Answer 30

Negative symptoms.

Question 31

What are "depot" antipsychotics?

Answer 31

Long acting drugs used to manage people with severe issues in a community section.

Question 32

How is a depot medication administered?

Answer 32

Injected deep into a muscle.

Question 33

How long does a depot injection normally last?

Answer 33

1-4 weeks.

Question 34

What advantage do atypical antipsychotics have over typical?

Answer 34

They work on both positive and negative symptoms, are easier to take, last longer, increase compliance, and have less side effects.

Question 35

What are the side effects of atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 35

Hunger (leads to weight gain), sedation, and increased risk of diabetes.

Question 36

What are mood stabilizers used for?

Answer 36

To treat bipolar or manic episodes.

Question 37

What is a popular mood stabilizer?

Answer 37

Lithium.

Question 38

How does lithium work?

Answer 38

Not fully understood, but it has been used effectively for over 70 years.

Question 39

What is the therapeutic range of lithium?

Answer 39

2-4 weeks.

Question 40

What are two main classes of anxiolytics?

Answer 40

Benzodiazepines and beta blockers.

Question 41

How do benzodiazepines work?

Answer 41

They quickly slow down the central nervous system.

Question 42

What are 4 examples of benzodiazepines? (and their drug names).

Answer 42

Ativan (lorazepam), Rivotril (dlonazepam), Valium (diazepam), Xanax (Alprazolam*).

Question 43

How do benzodiazepines affect people?

Answer 43

Slower breathing, lowered heart rate, "fight or flight" feeling lessened.

Question 44

What are beta blockers typically used for?

Answer 44

Cardiac and blood pressure management.

Question 45

How do beta blockers reduce anxiety?

Answer 45

By blocking the effects of norepinephrine.

Question 46

What are beta blockers useful for?

Answer 46

Short acting calming drugs for managing social phobias.

Question 47

What are the risks of benzodiazepines?

Answer 47

They are highly addictive, build tolerance quickly, and are dangerous when mixed with alcohol.

Question 48

What can result from abruptly stopping benzo use?

Answer 48

Seizures.

Question 49

What can result from abruptly stopping antidepressant use?

Answer 49

Nausea, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, achiness.

Question 50

What are the three classes of drug used to treat ADHD?

Answer 50

Methylphenidates (stimulant), amphetamines (stimulant), and atomexetine (non-stimulant).

Question 51

What are two examples of methlphenidates?

Answer 51

Ritalin (short-acting) and Concerta (long-acting).

Question 52

What are two examples of amphetamines?

Answer 52

Dexedrine (short-acting) and Adderall (long-acting).

Question 53

What is an example of atomoxetines?

Answer 53

Strattera.

Question 54

Which drug has been approved for bulimia?

Answer 54

Prozac.

Question 55

What classes of drugs have been used to treat personality disorders?

Answer 55

Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.

Question 56

What are some geriatric/paediatric considerations?

Answer 56

Less is needed to be effective, side effects can hit harder and faster, and drugs can impair cognitive functioning so close monitoring is required.

Question 57

What is used to treat dementia?

Answer 57

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Question 58

Give 3 examples of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Answer 58

Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Reminyl (galatamine).

Question 59

What do acetylcholinesterase inhibitors do?

Answer 59

They increase the amount of acetylcholine in the brain.