mental health exam 1 neuro trasmitters and meds

What are the major neurotransmitters in mental health nursing?

Norepinephrine / Serotonin / Dopamine / Glutamate / GABA / Neuropeptides / Acetylcholine

Norepinephrine is mainly associated with what?

Energy / alertness / stress response

Serotonin is mainly associated with what?

Mood / sleep / appetite / anxiety

Dopamine is mainly associated with what?

Reward / motivation / movement / psychosis

What is Glutamate?

A major excitatory neurotransmitter

Easy way to remember Glutamate?

Glutamate = GO or gas pedal

What is GABA?

A major inhibitory and calming neurotransmitter

Easy way to remember GABA?

GABA = brakes on the brain

Acetylcholine is important for what?

Memory / learning / cognition

What are neuropeptides?

Chemical messengers involved in pain / stress / emotions / behavior

What is pharmacodynamics?

What the drug does to the body and how it produces its effects

What is pharmacokinetics?

What the body does to the drug or movement of the drug through the body

What are the four steps of pharmacokinetics?

Absorption / Distribution / Metabolism / Excretion

What is pharmacogenetics?

Effects of genetic variation on drug responses

What does an agonist do?

Binds to a receptor and stimulates it

What does an antagonist do?

Blocks a neurotransmitter from binding to its receptor

What are benzodiazepines commonly used for?

Anxiety / panic / insomnia / alcohol withdrawal

Which benzodiazepines are used for anxiety or panic?

Diazepam(Valium) / Clonazepam(Klonopin) / Alprazolam(Xanax) / Lorazepam(Ativan)

Which benzodiazepines are used for insomnia?

Flurazepam(Dalmane) / Temazepa(Restoril)/ Triazolam(Halcion)

Which medications are used for alcohol withdrawal?

Chlordiazepoxide(Librium) / Diazepam(Valium) / Lorazepam(Ativan)

What mnemonic helps remember benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal?

L-V-A = Librium / Valium / Ativan

What are the three Z-hypnotics?

Zolpidem(Ambien) / Zaleplon(Sonata) / Eszopiclone(Lunesta)

What are Z-hypnotics used for?

Short acting medications for insomnia and sleep

Easy way to remember Z-hypnotics?

Z drugs = ZZZ sleep

What type of drug is Ramelteon(Rozerem)?

Melatonin receptor agonist

Doxepin brand name for insomnia?

Silenor

What are Suvorexant and Lemborexant?

Orexin receptor antagonists that promote sleep

What is Buspirone(BuSpar) used for?

Anxiety

SSRIs mainly affect which neurotransmitter?

Serotonin

SNRIs mainly affect which neurotransmitters?

Serotonin and norepinephrine

NDRIs mainly affect which neurotransmitters?

Norepinephrine and dopamine

What is the classic mood stabilizer?

Lithium(Eskalith / Lithobid)

What anticonvulsants are used as mood stabilizers?

Valproate(Depakote / Depakene) / Carbamazepine(Equetro / Tegretol) / Lamotrigine(Lamictal)

What are the two major types of antipsychotics?

First generation and second generation atypical

What dopamine receptor do many antipsychotics block?

D2 receptors

Easy way to remember antipsychotic action?

Block D2 = decrease dopamine activity

What are examples of amphetamine ADHD medications?

Adderall / Vyvanse

What medications are used to treat ADHD?

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) / Amphetamines (Adderall, Vyvanse) / Atomoxetine (Strattera) / Guanfacine (Intuniv) / Clonidine (Kapvay)

What do cholinesterase inhibitors do in Alzheimer's disease?

Slow the destruction of acetylcholine

What are the three cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease?

Donepezil / Galantamine / Rivastigmine

Donepezil brand name?

Aricept

Galantamine brand name?

Razadyne

Rivastigmine brand name?

Exelon

What mnemonic helps remember Alzheimer's cholinesterase inhibitors?

Do-Ga-Ri = Donepezil / Galantamine / Rivastigmine

Memantine brand name?

Namenda or Namenda XR

What type of medication is Memantine( alzheimer medication)?

Glutamate blocking agent

Which Alzheimer's drugs help preserve acetylcholine?

Donepezil / Galantamine / Rivastigmine

What is a major concern with herbal treatments?

Many lack adequate safety and efficacy data

Are herbal treatments regulated as strictly by the FDA as prescription drugs?

No

Why may herbal treatment labels be unreliable?

The product may not contain the active ingredient or amount shown on the label

What is an important nursing teaching point about herbal products?

Natural does not always mean safe and herbal products can interact with medication

What do benzodiazepines do to GABA activity?

Increase the inhibitory calming effects of GABA

Which neurotransmitter system do Z-hypnotics such as Zolpidem affect?

GABA

Which neurotransmitter does Buspirone primarily affect?

Serotonin

Which neurotransmitters are increased by stimulant ADHD medications?

Dopamine and norepinephrine

Which neurotransmitter does Atomoxetine mainly affect?

Norepinephrine

Which neurotransmitter system do Guanfacine and Clonidine affect?

Norepinephrine through alpha-2 adrenergic receptors

Which neurotransmitter is associated with psychosis and targeted by many antipsychotics?

Dopamine

Which neurotransmitter is important for memory and targeted in Alzheimer's treatment?

Acetylcholin