Psychotropics

types of psychotropic medications

antidepressants, sedative-hypnotics, anti-anxiety, antipsychotics, alzheimer meds, bipolar meds

neurotransmitters involved in psychotropics

dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine

types of antidepressants

SSRI/SNRIs, tricyclics, MAO inhibitors

pros and cons of antidepressants

pros: stimulates growth of neurons in the hippocampus, ketamine causes rapid reduction in depression; cons: serotonin syndrome, take a while to work reach the peak

actions of antidepressants

inhibit reuptake and decrease breakdown of neurotransmitters to prolong their effects

indications of antidepressants

fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, LBP, headaches, chronic pain

side effects of tricyclics

sedation, anticholinergic symptoms (dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention), OH, arrhythmia

side effects of MAO inhibitors

CNS excitation, increase BP

side effects of SSRI and SNRIs

better tolerated, GI problems, seizures

pros and cons of sedative-hypnotics

pros: decrease CNS excitation; cons: sedation, rebound insomnia, tolerance, dependence

actions of sedative-hypnotics

bind to GABA receptors to increase their effects, affects melatonin receptors

indications of sedative-hypnotics

anxiety, promote normal sleep relaxation

side effects of sedative-hypnotics

hangover effect, anterograde amnesia, complex behaviors like sleep walking

types of antipsychotics

traditional and atypical

pros and cons of antipsychotics

pros: good for more severe mental illness; cons: tardive dyskinesia, can lead to neuroleptic malignant syndrome with high doses

actions of antipsychotics

block D2 dopamine receptors in the CNS, atypicals block 5-HT2 receptors

side effects of antipsychotics

atypicals: weight gain, disturb lipid/glucose metabolism; traditional: OH, sedation, anticholinergic effects; both: extrapyramidal (tardive dyskinesia, pseudoparkinsonism, akathisia, dystonia, dyskinesia)

pros and cons of alzheimer meds

prs: improve cognition, memory, intellectual function; cons: not curative, only works until a certain amount of progression

actions of alzheimer meds

increase acetylcholine indirectly by inhibiting cholinesterase from breaking it down, blocks NMDA-glutamate receptors to decrease overstimulation

indications of alzheimer meds

cognitive and behavioral functioning, antibodies that bind to amyloid beta protein fragment plaques that have accumulated in the brain

pros and cons of bipolar meds

pros: stabilizes neurons and neuroprotective; cons: lithium toxicity occurs close to therapeutic levels, accumulates with kidney dysfunction

actions of bipolar meds

stabilizes mood by preventing manic episodes

side effects of bipolar meds

lithium toxicity

mild symptoms of lithium toxicity

tremor, fatigue, dizziness, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, polyuria, polydyspia

moderate symptoms of lithium toxicity

ataxia, seizure, confusion, vomit, diarrhea, bradycardia, AV block, arrhythmia, kidney damage

mechanism of lithium toxicity

too high dose of bipolar meds

symptoms of serotonin syndrome

increase HR, increase BP, confusion, agitation, sweating, shivering, dyskinesia, GI problems

mechanism of serotonin syndrome

CNS serotonin receptors are overstimulated