Anti-Depressants
The first-line drugs (class) for treating depression.
What are SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)?
This class of anti-anxiety medications is recommended for short-term use and is associated with risk of dependency.
What are benzodiazepines?
Considered to be the gold standard for treating bipolar disorder.
What is Lithium?
Potentially fatal condition with symptoms such as confusion, agitation, headache, coma, sweating, shivering, hyperthermia, ataxia, hyperreflexia, and muscle twitching
What is serotonin syndrome?
The three neurotransmitters involved with depression.
What are serotonin, norepinephrine,and dopamine?
This class of antidepressants may work better than SSRIs but are associated with many side effects (cardiovascular, anticholinergic, and CNS) and toxicity (especially with overdose).
What are TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants)?
This medication is not a benzodiazepine, is non-sedating, but unfortunately takes several weeks to reach therapeutic effect.
What is Buspirone (Buspar)?
Class of medications often used for treating bipolar disorder, usually the first drug prescribed, and has multiple options in the class.
What are anticonvulsants?
This side effect is seen in about 50-70% of patients who take SSRIs and may be a major factor regarding compliance.
What is sexual dysfunction?
This is the strongest and most consistent risk factor for bipolar disorder.
What is family history?
This was the first developed antidepressant class but are not often given due to need to monitor, high interactions with other drugs and foods.
What are MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors)?
This class of medication is often first-line for anxiety spectrum disorders including OCD, panic attacks, PTSD, and social phobias.
What are SSRIs?
This class of medication is approved for treating mania (acute) and can be used as an adjunct mood stabilizer.
Syndrome characterized by a rash to be monitored for with a patient on an anticonvulsant, especially Lamotrigine (Lamictal).
What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?
A patient who has recently started taking a MAOI tells you he would like to have coffee, a banana, and yogurt for breakfast. You are concerned because all of these foods have _____ in them.
What is tyramine?
In this class of antidepressants has two of the best selling antidepressants and another one that works for anxiety related disorders in addition to depression.
What are SNRIs (Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)?
This medication is a beta-blocker that interrupts the physical response to anxiety (especially related to social phobia) and is safer to take in comparison to a benzodiazepine.
What is propranolol (Inderal)?
The therapeutic serum range for Lithium.
What is 0.6 to 1.2 (1.0 textbook) mEq/L?
Serum level of Lithium where you will start to see mild to moderate toxicity symptoms.
What is 1.5 mEq/L?
This treatment is indicated for patients with major depression and catatonia, especially those who have failed medication trials, and is considered the most effective antidepressant treatment.
What is ECT (electroconvulsive therapy)?
The first developed SSRI and frequently prescribed that can also be used for smoking cessation and pain management.
What is Fluoxetine (Prozac)?
The neurotransmitter that benzodiazepines work on.
What is GABA?
This is the reason that a patient who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has depression may not be put on an anti-depressant.
What is drug induced/anti-depressant induced mania?
You have a patient who is complaining of diarrhea, tinnitus, and feeling weak. You also notice them having difficulty walking and squinting. When you ask the patient why they are squinting, they tell you their vision is blurry. You are concerned that this patient is experiencing ________.
What is [moderate to severe] Lithium toxicity?
This is one of the most important element of milieu management for a patient with depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.
What is safety?