Drugs for Treating Psychiatric Disorders Chapter 13.
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Transcript of Drugs for Treating Psychiatric Disorders Chapter 13.
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Drugs for Treating Psychiatric Disorders
Chapter 13
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What are Psychotropic Medications?
Medications are used to treat the symptoms of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic-depressive illness), anxiety disorders, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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Side Effects to Psychotropic Drugs?
Some people get side effects from medications and other people don't
Factors that can affect how medications work in people include: Type of mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar
disorder, and schizophrenia Age, sex, and body size Physical illnesses Habits like smoking and drinking Liver and kidney function Genetics Other medications and herbal/vitamin supplements Diet Whether medications are taken as prescribed.
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DepressionSymptomsMost symptoms, felt most days over 2 weeks• Depressed mood most of the day, • Markedly diminished interest or pleasure • Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight
gain • Insomnia or hypersomnia • Psychomotor agitation or retardation • Fatigue or loss of energy • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or
indecisiveness• Recurrent thoughts of death
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DepressionMost common drugs used:• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) used mostly in the past
though no other group of antidepressants was been demonstrated as more effective or fast working)– Elavil, Tofranil, Pamelor
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)– Celexa, Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, Zoloft
• Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)– Effexor, Pristiq, Cymbalta, Dalcipran, Meridia
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs (used rarely)– Apresoline, Harmalol, Selegiline, Moclobemide
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TCAs
• Orally (once a day at bedtime to minimize unwanted side effects like persistent sedation)
• 4 days of clinical effect and readily crosses the placental barrier
• Rapidly and almost completely metabolized by enzymes located in the liver.
• Urine
PharmacokineticsPharmacokineticsAbsorptionAbsorption
DistributionDistribution
MetabolismMetabolism
EliminationElimination
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TCAsRelated NeurotransmittersRelated NeurotransmittersTherapeutic effects comes from blocking reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrineBlockade of ACH receptors results in dry mouth, confusion, memory impairments, and blurred visionBlockage of histamine receptors results in drowsiness and sedation
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TCAsEffectsEffectsElevated mood
Increased physical activity
Improved appetite
Improved sleep patterns
Reduced morbid preoccupation
Clinically effective in the long-term therapy of dysthymia
Dry mouth
Confusion
Memory impairments
Blurred vision
Sedation*
Cardiac depression
Cardiac arrhythmias
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SSRIsRelated NeurotransmittersRelated NeurotransmittersBlocks the re-uptake of serotonin
*Each drug has a different half life
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SSRIsEffectsEffectsElevated mood
Increased physical activity
Improved appetite
Improved sleep patterns
Reduced morbid preoccupation
Clinically effective in the long-term therapy of dysthymia
Sexual dysfunction > 60%
Anxiety
Agitation
Insomnia
Rarely suicide
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SSRIsCaution!Caution!Suicide
Serotonin syndrome (most likely to occur when SSRIs are combined with each other, other antidepressants, or valerian root)
- Alterations in cognition, autonomic nervous system, and neuromuscular activity which could be life threatening.
Serotonin Withdrawal Syndrome (occurs in perhaps 60% of SSRI-treated patients following drug removal)
- Disequilibrium, gastrointestinal symptoms, sensory disturbances (sensation of electric shocks), sleep disturbances
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SNRIsRelated NeurotransmittersRelated NeurotransmittersBlocks the reuptake of serotoninBlocks the reuptake of norepinephrine
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SNRIsEffectsEffectsElevated mood
Increased physical activity
Improved appetite
Improved sleep patterns
Reduced morbid preoccupation
Clinically effective in the long-term therapy of dysthymia
Dry mouth
Dizziness
nausea
Blurred vision
Sedation*
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SNRIsCaution!Caution!Suicide
Serotonin syndrome (most likely to occur when SSRIs are combined with each other, other antidepressants, or valerian root)
- Alterations in cognition, autonomic nervous system, and neuromuscular activity which could be life threatening.
Serotonin Withdrawal Syndrome (occurs in perhaps 60% of SSRI-treated patients following drug removal)
- Disequilibrium, gastrointestinal symptoms, sensory disturbances (sensation of electric shocks), sleep disturbances
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MAOIsRelated NeurotransmittersRelated NeurotransmittersBreaks down norepinephrine and serotonin permanently –which means it could be weeks before new neurotransmitters are manufactured.
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MAOIsEffectsEffectsElevated mood
Increased physical activity
Improved appetite
Improved sleep patterns
Reduced morbid preoccupation
Clinically effective in the long-term therapy of dysthymia
Potential fatal blood pressure increases when mixed with common foods
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MAOIsCaution!Caution!Death when mixed with common foods like cheese, wine, beer, soy, coffee, chocolate
Serotonin syndrome (most likely to occur when MAOIs are combined with each other, other antidepressants, or valerian root)
- Alterations in cognition, autonomic nervous system, and neuromuscular activity which could be life threatening.
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works on the neurotransmitter dopamine, is unique in that it does not fit into any specific drug type.
Wellbutrin (Bupropion)
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Herbal Remedies for Depression?
NIH conducted a clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of treating adults who have major depression with St. Johns wort. The single-blind study included
340 people diagnosed with major depression.
1/3 took the herbal medicine, 1/3 took an SSRI, and 1/3 took placebo.
The study found that St. John's wort was no more effective than the placebo in treating major depression
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Bipolar Disorder
Depressive Symptoms5 or more, in same 2 week period• Depressed mood most of the day, • Markedly diminished interest of pleasure • Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight
gain • Insomnia or hypersomnia • Psychomotor agitation or retardation • Fatigue or loss of energy • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or
indecisiveness• Recurrent thoughts of death
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Bipolar Disorder
Mania Symptoms3 or more, lasting at least 1 week• inflated self-esteem or grandiosity • decreased need for sleep • more talkative than usual or pressure to keep
talking • flight of ideas or subjective experience that
thoughts are racing • distractibility increase in goal-directed activity or
psychomotor agitation • excessive involvement in pleasurable activities
that have a high potential for painful consequences
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Bipolar Disorder
4% LPR -Laryngopha-ryngeal-reflux
1 in 4 or 5 commits suicide
> 55% have a history of
substance abuseMust rule out
mania caused by antidepressants, caffeine, herbals,
stimulants, corticosteroids, cough and cold preparation, diet
aids, and hyperthyroid
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Bipolar DisorderMost common drugs used:• Lithium
• 28% of patients discontinue the drug• 38% experience recurrences on the
drug• Only 23% don’t have reoccurring
episodes• Valproic Acid• Antipsychotics
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Lithium –a salt
• Orally (once daily due to long half life)
• Peak blood levels reach within 3 hours; crosses blood-brain barrier incompletely
• Excreted unchanged by kidneys
• Urine and skin
PharmacokineticsPharmacokineticsAbsorptionAbsorption
DistributionDistribution
MetabolismMetabolism
EliminationElimination
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LithiumEffectsEffectsLess mania (though not less time to recurrence compared to placebo)
Reduction in suicidal behaviors
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
tremor, lethargy, impaired concentration, slurred speech, ataxia, muscle weakness
Memory loss
Weight gain (depressed thyroid)
Hallucinations
Muscle rigidity, coma, renal failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and death
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LithiumCaution!Caution!Illness course is believed to be worse after stopping lithium than having never received the drug (including super high suicidal behaviors and completions).
Low compliance due to side effects, high likelihood of relapse, and missing the “high”
High rate of interactions with other drugs
About 40% are either resistant to lithium or develop side effects that limit its effectiveness
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Valproic Acid –antiepileptic drug
• Orally and intravenously for acute mania
• 90% bound to proteins in blood, 10% may make it to the brain (this % rises shockingly if too much is administered)
• 95% broken down by liver; with metabolites that contribute to side effects. Differences between peak and trough levels can be extreme
• Urine
PharmacokineticsPharmacokineticsAbsorptionAbsorption
DistributionDistribution
MetabolismMetabolism
EliminationElimination
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Valproic AcidEffectsEffectsLess mania (though not less time to recurrence compared to placebo)
Reduction in suicidal behaviors
GI upset
Sedation
Lethargy
Hand tremor
Alopecia (loss of hair)
Metabolic changes in liver
Decreased cognitive function
Obesity (rarer side effects)
Fertility problems in women and masculinization
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Valproic AcidCaution!Caution!Causes excess ammonia in the blood (hyperammonemia) which can lead to brain damage
Overdose = tremor, stupor, respiratory depression, coma, metabolic acidosis and death
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Antidepressants used in treatment of bipolar disorder
• Fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft) are sometimes given to people with bipolar disorder
• CAUTION: should not take an antidepressant on its own. Doing so can cause the person to rapidly switch from depression to mania
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Atypical Antipsychotics Related NeurotransmittersRelated NeurotransmittersSerotonin antagonism
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EffectsEffectsLess mania (depending on drug used)
More mania (depending on drug used)
Atypical Antipsychotics
Sedation (in some drugs)
Increased motor activity
Agitation
Weight gain
Extrapyramidal effects
Akathesia (sensation of inner restlessness)
Tardive dyskinesia (purposeless movements)
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Schizophrenia
Symptoms2 or more for a sig. portion of time
during 1-mo. period• delusions• hallucinations• disorganized speech (e.g., frequent
derailment or incoherence, echolalia) • grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior• negative symptoms (i.e. affective flattening,
mental confusion, or lack of initiation/motivation)
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Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia and the Brain Animation
1% LPR10-15% commit suicide
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SchizophreniaMost common drugs used:• Typical Antipsychotics (also called
neuroleptics)- Clozapine, Thorazine, Haldol,
• Atypical antipsychotics– Risperdal, Abilify, Seroquel
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Typical Antipsychotics Related NeurotransmittersRelated NeurotransmittersDopamine receptor blockage
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EffectsEffectsLess positive symptoms of schizophrenia
Worse negative symptomatology of schizophrenia
Sedation
Extrapyramidal effects
Akathesia (sensation of inner restlessness)
Tardive dyskinesia (purposeless movements)
Typical Antipsychotics
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Atypical Antipsychotics Related NeurotransmittersRelated NeurotransmittersSerotonin antagonism
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EffectsEffectsLess positive symptoms of schizophrenia
Sedation (in some drugs)
Increased motor activity
Agitation
Weight gain
Extrapyramidal effects
Akathesia (sensation of inner restlessness)
Tardive dyskinesia (purposeless movements)
Atypical Antipsychotics
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Medications for Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders include: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Panic disorder Social phobia Fear of open and closed spaces
(agoraphobia)
Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and beta-blockers are the most common medications used for anxiety disorders.
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Symptoms 3 or more, felt most days over 6mos• Feeling wound-up, tense, or restless• Easily becoming fatigued or worn-out• Concentration problems• Irritability• Significant tension in muscles• Difficulty with sleep
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Generalized Anxiety DisorderMost common drugs used:• Buspirone (Buspar)• Benzodiazepines ►
• SSRIs– Celexa, Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, Zoloft
• SNRIs– Effexor, Pristiq, Cymbalta, Dalcipran, Meridia
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Related neurotransmittersRelated neurotransmittersunknown (possible serotonin receptor agonist; possible dopamine antagonist)
Buspar (buspirone)
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EffectsEffectsAnxiety remission with less withdrawal symptoms than benzos
dizziness
Headache
Lightheadedness
nausea
Excitement
Sweating/clamminess
Buspar (buspirone)
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Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder
Inattention Symptoms6 or more, in more than one situation +• Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless
mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities. • Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities. • Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly. • Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork,
chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
• Often has trouble organizing activities. • Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot
of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
• Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
• Is often easily distracted. • Is often forgetful in daily activities.
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Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder
Hyperactivity SymptomsMaladaptive in more than
one situation • Often fidgets with hands or feet
or squirms in seat. • Often gets up from seat when
remaining in seat is expected. • Often runs about or climbs
when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).
• Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
• Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor".
• Often talks excessively.
Impulsivity SymptomsMaladaptive in more
than one situation • Often blurts out
answers before questions have been finished.
• Often has trouble waiting one's turn.
• Often interrupts or intrudes on others
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Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder
http://www.healthcentral.com/adhd/video-39189-47.html
ADHD animation
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Most common drugs used:• Ritalin►
• Adderal ►
Less common drugs used• Methamphetamine ►
Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder
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Special Needs Groups
• Psychiatric medications are taken by all types of people, but some groups have special needs, including:– Children and adolescents– Older adults– Women who are pregnant or may become
pregnant.
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Children
• Great care needs to be taken in prescribing psychotropic drugs to children
• FDA indicated that Prozac should never be used in children because of brain damage issues
• Brain is still developing and impacted more negatively than in adults
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Older Adults
• Often have more medical problems
than other groups and tend to take
more medications than younger
people, including prescribed, over-the-counter, and herbal medications.
• Higher risk for experiencing bad drug interactions, missing doses, or overdosing.
• More sensitive to medications. • More likely to experience paradoxical effects
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Women – pregnant or planning Research is inconsistent in
determining whether antidepressants are safe during pregnancy
Some research suggests the use of SSRIs during pregnancy is associated with miscarriage or birth defects, but other studies do not support this
Fetuses exposed to SSRIs during the third trimester may be born with "withdrawal" symptoms such as breathing problems, jitteriness, irritability, trouble feeding, or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
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Some medications should not be taken during pregnancy.
Benzodiazepines may cause birth defects or other infant problems, especially if taken during the first trimester.
Mood stabilizers are known to cause birth defects.
Benzodiazepines and lithium have been shown to cause "floppy baby syndrome," which is when a baby is drowsy and limp, and cannot breathe or feed well.