Substance Treatment
True or False: If I start Suboxone or Methadone for opiate use disorder, I will have to take these medications for the rest of my life?
What is false?
Explanation: No, these medications are like nicotine replacement where they are meant to be a tool in maintaining sobriety, and can be used for as long or as short a period of time as necessary.
Depression is most often linked to a low level of this substance in the body?
What is serotonin?
Name one anti-depressant side effect that can happen when you first start taking the medicine, but often goes away?
Dry mouth, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, headache, changes in sleep habits, etc.
What substance in the body do most anti-psychotics target?
What is dopamine?
Block receptors - thought to have too much of this neurotransmitter
True or False: Medication is the only treatment method that works for mental health problems.
What is False?
Name one substance that is used/abused that can interact with psychiatric medications.
What is marijuana, alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, etc.?
Additionally, many street drugs can make psychiatric symptoms worse just by how they affect the body.
Name a vitamin/supplement that can interact with psychiatric medications?
What is St. Johns Wart (anti-depressants), ginseng (anti-psychotics), ginkgo (Depakote), Kava (anti-psychotics), etc.?
True or False: If decide with my provider to use a long-acting injectable anti-psychotic medication, I will have to get a shot every month?
What is False?
Explanation: each medication is different, but there are options spaced as far apart as every 6 months.
One cause of mental illness is an imbalance in?
What are neurotransmitters? (chemical messengers in the brain/body)
This medication is used to potentially reverse an opiate overdose?
Bonus: True or False: your friend uses a street-purchased stimulant in front of you and then starts to turn blue and stop breathing. You should try giving the medication mentioned above?
What is Narcan (naloxone)?
Bonus: What is true? Substances bought on the street are rarely "pure" and often contaminated with opiates. Giving a dose of Narcan will not hurt someone & always call 911.
Fluoxetine and sertraline are two types of this kind of anti-depressant?
What is an SSRI? (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor)
This is the correct way to stop taking a psychiatric medication?
What is slowly - tapering off or transferring to a similar medications & with the help of your provider?
This is the first-line medication treatment for anxiety disorders.
What are anti-depressants?
Most anti-depressants take how long to reach full effect?
What is 4 - 6 weeks?
This psychiatric medicine side effect is caused by taking multiple anti-depressants (or very high doses)?
What is serotonin syndrome?
Explanation: emergency situation - sx. = fast heart rate, high blood pressure, confusion, agitation, shivering, diarrhea, seizure, muscle stiffness, etc.
Name one psychiatric medication that requires regular bloodwork to make sure it is at safe levels in the body.
What is lithium, clozapine, carbamazepine, Depakote, etc.?
This monthly treatment option can be used for alcohol use disorder (AUD) or opiate use disorder (OUD)?
What is Vivitrol (long-acting injectable naltrexone)?
People with this disorder should not take an anti-depressant alone (without an additional specific type of medication) as it could make symptoms worse?
Bonus: What type of medication?
What is bipolar disorder?
Bonus: mood stabilizer of anti-psychotic
Tremor (shaking), lip smacking, rapid blinking, and other similar jerky movements are symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia. These symptoms are a side effect of long-term use of what kind of medications?
Bonus: Which "generation" of these drugs is more likely than others to cause this?
Anti-psychotics (e.g., Haldol, Thorazine, etc.)
Bonus: 1st generation anti-psychotics (the older medicines) vs. 2nd generation (newer ones)
Smoking can change how your body processes this medication?
What is Clozaril/clozapine?
It is important that you do not abruptly change your smoking habits when taking this medicine without telling your provider.
This medication can be used to treat insomnia, depression, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia-type disorders? (Hint: it is an anti-psychotic)
What is Seroquel (quetiapine)?
Explanation: Different doses act differently in the body to treat different symptoms.