Dopamine
Dopamine is central to what “feel good” functions?
What are reward, motivation, and pleasure?
This is the brain’s major excitatory neurotransmitter.
What is glutamate?
Low levels of serotonin are linked to this mood disorder.
Answer: What is depression?
Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter primarily involved in this branch of the autonomic nervous system.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
What are the functions of acetylcholine?
What is memory, learning, and muscle contraction?
Excess dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway contributes to this disorder.
Schizophrenia
This neurotransmitter acts like the brain’s natural “brake pedal,” calming neuronal activity?
What is GABA?
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that primarily does this in the brain and body.
What is regulate mood, appetite, sleep, arousal, attention, and body temperature?
What class of medication is the antidepressant duloxetine (Cymbalta), which increases both serotonin and norepinephrine.
What is an SNRI?
Low levels of acetylcholine are associated with this neurodegenerative disorder marked by memory loss.
Answer: What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Too little dopamine in the nigrostriatal pathway causes this movement disorder.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Low levels of GABA are linked to this psychiatric disorder.
What is anxiety?
Combining SSRIs with agents like St. John’s wort may cause this dangerous syndrome.
Answer: What is serotonin syndrome?
Prazosin, an α1-blocker, is used to reduce nightmares in this disorder.
What is PTSD?
This class of medications slows the breakdown of acetylcholine in Alzheimer’s disease.
Answer: What are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors?
Blocking dopamine in the nigrostriatal pathway with antipsychotics can cause these movement-related side effects.
What are extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) or tardive dyskinesia?
Benzodiazepines enhance the effect of this neurotransmitter.
What is GABA?
This common antidepressant class works by blocking the reuptake of serotonin.
Answer: What are SSRIs?
Blocking α1-receptors with some antipsychotics can cause this cardiovascular side effect.
What is orthostatic hypotension?
Name one acetylcholinesterase inhibitor commonly prescribed for Alzheimer’s disease.
Answer: What is donepezil, rivastigmine, or galantamine?
This enzyme primarily breaks down dopamine and is inhibited by certain antidepressants, leading to increased dopamine availability.
What is monoamine oxidase (MAO)?
This NMDA receptor antagonist reduces excitability in Alzheimer’s disease.
What is memantine?
Major antidepressants such as SSRIs work by blocking this protein, which normally facilitates the transport of serotonin back into the cell.
What is the serotonin transporter (SERT)?
By blocking H1 histamine receptors, antipsychotic medications commonly cause these two side effects, which may lead to poor medication adherence.
What are weight gain and sedation.
This type of acetylcholine receptor is stimulated by nicotine, which helps explain why people with schizophrenia may be more likely to smoke.
What is the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor?