Pharmacology of Antidepressants

Practice flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to antidepressants and their pharmacology.

Depression

A complex syndrome of widely varying severity that is an affective disorder characterized by changes in mood ranging from severe depression to mania.

Reactive depression

The most common type of depression (60%) that occurs in response to real stimuli like illness, poverty, grief, or drug use.

Endogenous depression

Also known as major depression (unipolar depression), forms about 25% of cases and is a genetically determined biochemical disorder.

Bipolar depression

A rare type of depression (10-15% of cases) characterized by swings between episodes of mania and depression.

Monoamine theory

A theory suggesting that depression is due to a decrease in monoamines (norepinephrine & serotonin) at certain key brain sites.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA)

First generation antidepressants that inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin, with examples including imipramine and amitriptyline.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

A class of antidepressants that selectively block the reuptake of serotonin, including drugs like fluoxetine and sertraline.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

A class of antidepressants that inhibit the activity of monoamine oxidase, affecting levels of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin.

Antimuscarinic effects

Side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, and constipation caused by certain antidepressants.

Lithium carbonate

A mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder, effective in reducing mood swings and has potential side effects including renal effects.

Serotonin syndrome

A potentially life-threatening condition caused by excessive levels of serotonin in the body, often a result of drug interactions.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

A treatment involving the passage of a small electric charge across the brain, often used in severe cases of depression.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers like norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, whose levels are altered in various psychiatric disorders.

CNS (Central Nervous System) effects of antidepressants

Antidepressants elevate mood, improve mental illness, and increase physical activity without producing stimulation in normal individuals.

Side effects of TCAs

Can include sedation, postural hypotension, and cardiovascular issues such as arrhythmias.

Bipolar affective disorder

A serious psychiatric disorder characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania.

Pharmacokinetics of lithium

Lithium is completely absorbed, primarily excreted by the kidney, and has a significant interaction with sodium levels.