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Vocabulary flashcards summarizing major drug classes, specific agents, mechanisms, side effects, and treatment principles for anxiety disorders.
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Benzodiazepines
Sedative-hypnotic anxiolytics that enhance GABA activity; useful short-term only due to tolerance, dependence, withdrawal risk, and respiratory depression when combined with other sedatives.
Buspirone
Non-addictive anxiolytic and serotonin partial agonist for long-term use; minimal sedation, no abuse potential, but requires 2-4 weeks for full effect.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
First-line drugs for all anxiety disorders; block serotonin reuptake, may initially increase anxiety; adverse effects include sexual dysfunction, insomnia, GI upset, bleeding risk, and suicidal ideation.
Serotonin–Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
Dual reuptake blockers (e.g., venlafaxine, duloxetine); venlafaxine is approved for panic disorder, GAD, and social anxiety disorder.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
Second/third-line agents (e.g., amitriptyline, clomipramine); effective but cause anticholinergic, sedative, cardiac adverse effects and are lethal in overdose.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Older antidepressants (e.g., phenelzine) sometimes used in social anxiety disorder; require tyramine-restricted diet to avoid hypertensive crisis.
Beta Blockers
Propranolol, atenolol; blunt peripheral anxiety symptoms (e.g., tremor, tachycardia); can cause bradycardia, hypotension, fatigue, rare Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonists
Clonidine, guanfacine; reduce sympathetic outflow to lessen anxiety; side effects include hypotension, dizziness, somnolence, AV block.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Taper-required syndrome featuring headache, tremor, anxiety, sweating, perceptual disturbances, and potentially life-threatening seizures.
Serotonin Syndrome
Potentially fatal excess serotonergic activity causing hyperthermia, autonomic instability, neuromuscular hyperactivity, and altered mental status; treat by stopping offending drug, cyproheptadine, cooling, and supportive care.
GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)
Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS; activity is potentiated by benzodiazepines to produce anxiolysis and sedation.
Panic Disorder Treatment
Combines cognitive-behavioral therapy with medications such as SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, escitalopram), short-term benzodiazepines, TCAs, or MAOIs.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment
Typically involves trauma-focused therapy plus pharmacologic options like SSRIs or SNRIs; benzodiazepines generally avoided for long-term use.
Kava Kava
Herbal product once thought anxiolytic but now linked to worsening psychiatric symptoms and potential hepatotoxicity.
Valerian
Herbal remedy used for anxiety and insomnia; usually safe short-term but may cause headaches, excitability, and paradoxical insomnia.
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Short-acting benzodiazepine for acute anxiety and panic attacks; high abuse and withdrawal potential.
Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Long-acting benzodiazepine useful for panic disorder and seizure prophylaxis; carries same risks as others in its class.
Diazepam (Valium)
Long-acting benzodiazepine with muscle-relaxant properties; risk for accumulation and sedation in older adults.
Propranolol (Inderal)
Non-selective beta blocker used off-label to control performance anxiety by reducing somatic symptoms such as tachycardia.
Cyproheptadine
Histamine-1 antagonist with serotonin-blocking properties used to reverse serotonin syndrome.
Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
Sedating antihistamine sometimes used PRN for anxiety; lacks dependence potential but causes anticholinergic and antihistamine side effects.