Pharmaco-
kinetics
Stimulants, SSRI's, & others
Rx Issues
The School's Role
Neurotransmitters
100
This is what a drug does to the body.
What is pharmacodynamics
100
This is the only non-stimulant drug approved for ADHD.
What is Strattera? (because it does not appear to have a potential for abuse, it is not classified as a controlled substance like Ritalin).
100
_____ is considered a Schedule II drug by the DEA, which means ___________.
What is Ritalin; it has a high risk for abuse and prescriptions are tightly controlled and monitored.
100
True or False: A school psychologist should suggest to parents when they feel a child needs medication for a behavioral concern.
What is false - while we can suggest that parents seek outside support, for example, from their pediatrician, it is not our place to provide medical advice.
100
This neurotransmitter is most commonly associated with reward pathways.
What is dopamine?
200
This is the fastest route of absorption for a drug in the body.
What is Intravenous (IV) injection into a vein.
200
This is the most well established (and studied) medication for bipolar disorder.
What is lithium?
200
This is the term that refers to a situation where a doctor prescribes a medication to someone for a problem other than for which it was originally researched.
What is 'off-label' prescribing.
200
What are some things that school-based practitioners can do to support children who are prescribed psychotropic medications?
What is: communicate with medical providers & parents, watch for side effects, look for indications of substance abuse, relay the effects of the medication to teachers and staff with whom the child has contact, take note of the drug's effect in the classroom, etc.
200
This neurotransmitter is involved in intestinal movement and thus drugs that act on it are often prescribed for individuals with digestive problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
What is serotonin? (*Because this would not be prescribed for the intended use, it would be considered an "off-label" use of the drug)
300
Younger children have thinner _____'s, often allowing more of a drug to diffuse into the brain.
What is the blood brain barrier (BBB)?
300
This is the generic name for Ritalin, the most commonly prescribed drug for ADHD.
What is Methylphenadate.
300
"Black Box" warnings have been placed on antidepressants when used in children due to an increased risk for _____.
What is suicide.
300
You are working with a high school student who is currently prescribed Fluoxetine (Prozac) for depression. She indicates to you that she is feeling much better and decided to stop taking the medication yesterday. Why is this not a good idea?
This is not a good idea because she may experience discontinuation syndrome. SSRI's should be discontinued gradually under a physician's care.
300
____ is a precursor to Dopamine and is able to cross the blood brain barrier, making it an excellent option in the treatment of _____.
What is L-DOPA and Parkinsons.
400
Drugs follow this order of events after entering the body.
What is absorption, distribution, metabolism, & elimination?
400
SSRI's have a ____ therapeutic interest and thus a lower likelihood for accidental overdose.
What is high
400
Because SSRI's work on indirect effects in the body, this means that _____.
What is the drug will take several weeks to have an effect as it builds up in your system (accumulation).
400
Caleb, a 6th grade student in your school, recently started taking Concerta XR for symptoms of ADHD. What are the most common side effects you might observe in him?
What is decreased appetite and insomnia?
400
______ is actually an amino acid that serves as a neurotransmitter and is the most important excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.
What is glutamate?
500
This phenomenon can result in very different rates of absorption of a drug and thus its bioavailability in the body.
What is the first-pass effect?
500
SSRI's prevent the ______ of serotonin in the synapse during transmission.
What is re-uptake.
500
Though there are no medications specifically approved or marketed for the treatment of autism, these drugs are sometimes used to treat the behavioral symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders such as aggression and self-injury.
What are the antipsychotics? (specifically the atypical antipsychotics such as Risperdal)
500
Public schools _____ (can/cannot) refuse to administer medications prescribed for a child's chronic health condition according to this law ____.
What is cannot (under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973).
500
The 1st generation of antidepressants, known as the tricyclics, were discovered by accident while researchers were investigating a treatment for _____.
What is tuberculosis?
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