KICKING THE HABIT
This drug is used to treat acute CNS and respiratory depression in suspected opioid overdose.
Naloxone
Earning its crown as the "King of Mood Stabilizers," this simple element on the periodic table is the oldest FDA-approved treatment for bipolar disorder.
Lithium
In the acronym SSRI, the "R" stands for this 8-letter chemical process where a neuron reabsorbs a neurotransmitter it just released.
Reuptake
While the famous cooking spray prevents food from sticking to your pan, this family of prescription medications, which tend to share a name with this spray, prevents anxiety from sticking to your brain.
Benzodiazepines (Lorazepam, Diazepam)
Antipsychotics like Abilify and Seroquel, are known by this clinical term because they carry a lower risk of neurological side effects than older "typical" ones.
Atypical antipsychotics
What are three routes for Naloxone administration?
IV
IM
SQ
Intranasal
Mood stabilizers like Depakote and Lamictal belong to this broader class of neurological medications.
Anticonvulsants
While most antidepressants focus on serotonin, bupropion stands out by primarily increasing the levels of these two other neurotransmitters.
Dopamine & Norepinephrine
Originally designed to treat high blood pressure, this drug works by blocking the physical effects of adrenaline and is used for performance anxiety (stage fright) and social anxiety.
Propranolol
First-generation antipsychotics like Haldol carry a higher risk of EPS—short for these kinds of neurological side effects that cause involuntary muscle movements and tremors.
Extrapyramidal symptoms
This opioid analgesic is used for detoxification and maintenance therapy in opioid addictions.
Methadone
Patients taking Lamotrigine (Lamictal) are warned to watch for a rare, severe, and potentially life-threatening rash known by this 3-word medical name.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Patients taking these older antidepressants must strictly avoid aged cheeses and cured meats to prevent a spike in blood pressure caused by tyramine, an amino acid byproduct.
MAO inhibitors
This chameleon of drug has a name like a benzo, belongs to the SSRI class of drugs, but is used to treat painic disorder, OCD, and PTSD.
Escitalopram
This devastating, life-threatening neurological emergency is a rare reaction to antipsychotics characterized by "lead-pipe" muscle rigidity, a soaring fever, and mental confusion.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
This side effect is more associated with Methadone than it is with buprenorphine because buprenorphine has a "ceiling effect".
Respiratory depression
Buprenorphine is a Partial opioid agonist (activates receptors partially, creating a "ceiling effect").
Methadone is a Full opioid agonist (fully activates receptors, similar to traditional opioids)
Name a condition that predisposes someone to lithium toxicity.
Kidney impairment, dehydration, hyponatremia
Mixing multiple antidepressants or combining them with certain supplements can cause this dangerous, over-stimulated condition marked by high fevers and tremors.
Serotonin Syndrome
While escitalopram is generally well-tolerated, doctors may run an EKG to ensure it isn't causing this cardiac side effect, which refers to a dangerous prolongation on a heart rhythm strip.
QT prolongation (or a prolonged QT interval)
While highly effective, the atypical antipsychotic clozapine requires strict, ongoing blood monitoring due to the risk of this dangerous drop in white blood cell count.
Agranulocytosis (or neutropenia)
This drug is often combined with naloxone to prevent intravenous misuse.
Buprenorphine
Name 3 symptoms associated with lithium toxicity.
• Gastrointestinal issues: Nausea, persistent vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea
• Neurological signs: Coarse hand tremors (more noticeable or shaking harder than usual), muscle weakness, mild twitching, confusion, slurred speech, disorientation, severe agitation, seizures
• Systemic signs: Extreme fatigue, drowsiness, mild lack of coordination, increased thirst, frequent urination, uncontrollable eye movements (nystagmus), blurred vision, muscle spasms, and severe clumsiness or an inability to walk straight
Structurally named for their three-ring chemical backbone, this older class of antidepressants includes medications like amitriptyline and imipramine.
Tricyclics or TCAs
Popularized in the 1960s and 70s as "Mother's Little Helper," this iconic brand-name benzodiazepine was the go-to prescription for everyday stress.
Diazepam (Valium)
This medication combination used to treat acute psychosis is commonly called a B-52, and includes three different medications including a benzodiazepine (that begins with L), a first generation ant-psychotic, and a very common H2 blocker. Name the three medications in a B-52.
Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
Haloperidol
Lorazepam