Behavioral Psychopharmacology

Medication must be used in conjunction with ____ _____

Behavior modification

When are behavior drugs utilized?

Severe and ongoing issues

Targets neurotransmitters in the brain

What are the 7 major neurotransmitters targeted in behavioral medication

Dopamine

Serotonins

Norepinephrine

Glutamate

Acetylcholine

GABA

Histamine

Can functions of behavior medicine overlap?

Yes

What is the function of neurotransmitters

Inhibitory or excitatory behavior

Agonist drug

Drug that takes the place of neurotransmitter and causes enhanced cellular activity

Antagonist drug

Drug that will take the place of a neurotransmitter and block cellular activity

Why is it important to pay attention when using multiple behavior drugs?

they can effect multiple neurotransmitters at once which can lead to an overdose if not monitored

How does the placebo effect translate to veterinary medicine

Owners can believe they see a positive or negative effect that is not truly happening on veterinary observation or lab work

Majority of behavior drugs are metabolized in the ______ and some are excreted through the ______

Liver

Kidneys

Why is it important to wean behavioral drugs

Animals can become dependent on the drug and quitting cold turkey can cause major side effects

Why must you be careful of extra-label drugs

Drugs used extra-label can have effects that are not clearly listed which can lead to side effects

Clinical signs of serotonin syndrome

Agitation, confusion, shivering, panting, and tremors

Why is it important to start serotonin increasing drugs slowly

They take a while to truly build up serotonin and starting a higher dose too quickly will cause side effects that may make the owner want to stop the medication

What is the treatment for serotonin syndrome

Stop using the drug and optionally Cyproheptadine as a serotonin antagonist

_______ reactions can happen with any drug

Idiosyncratic

Signs of idiosyncratic reactions

Episodes of frantic, repetitive, manic movements

Agitation or restlessness

Depression

Skin reaction

Phenothiazines

One of the first classes of drugs for behavior, antipsychotics

Dopamine antagonist (decrease dopamine)

Examples of phenothiazines

Acepromazine and fluphenazine