Neurological Disorders & Treatments
This neurological disorder is characterized by recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
What is epilepsy?
These drugs are used in Parkinson’s disease to block acetylcholine activity, helping to reduce tremors and muscle rigidity.
What are anticholinergic drugs?
Many antiepileptic drugs can cause dizziness and drowsiness, which increases the risk for this type of accident.
What are falls?
This medication is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdoses by rapidly restoring breathing.
What is naloxone (Narcan)?
Patients taking antiepileptic drugs should be educated to never do this with their medication to avoid withdrawal seizures.
What is stop taking them abruptly?
This progressive disorder is caused by an imbalance between dopamine and acetylcholine, leading to tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Dopaminergic drugs work by increasing dopamine levels, but this specific Parkinson’s medication must first be converted into dopamine after crossing the blood-brain barrier.
What is levodopa?
Parkinson’s drugs can cause this involuntary, abnormal movement, which may worsen over time with long-term levodopa use.
What is dyskinesia?
These stimulant drugs, often misused, can cause increased heart rate, elevated mood, and reduced fatigue, but also have a high risk of dependence.
What are amphetamines or stimulants (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine)?
Parkinson’s patients taking levodopa should avoid eating high-protein meals because they interfere with this process.
What is drug absorption?
This condition occurs when seizures happen back-to-back without full recovery in between, making it a medical emergency.
What is status epilepticus?
These drugs act by blocking norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake, making them useful for treating both depression and neuropathic pain.
What are tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)?
This life-threatening reaction to antipsychotics includes high fever, muscle rigidity, and unstable vital signs.
What is neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)?
These drugs are used for schizophrenia and psychosis by reducing excessive dopamine activity.
What are antipsychotics?
This drug class requires regular blood level monitoring due to a narrow therapeutic range, preventing toxicity or subtherapeutic dosing.
What are mood stabilizers (e.g. lithium) or some antiepileptic (e.g. phenytoin)?
This group of drugs is used to manage mood disorders, anxiety, and psychosis by altering neurotransmitter levels in the brain.
What are Psychotherapeutic drugs?
This medication, commonly used for bipolar disorder, works by stabilizing serotonin transmission and altering sodium transport in neurons.
This antidepressant-related syndrome results from too much serotonin activity, leading to confusion, tremors, and hyperthermia.
What is serotonin syndrome?
These anti-anxiety medications are widely used but carry a high risk of dependence and withdrawal.
What are benzodiazepines?
Patients on MAOIs must avoid foods rich in this substance to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
What is tyramine?
The goal of pharmacologic treatment in Parkinson’s disease is to increase this neurotransmitter or block its counterpart to improve movement symptoms.
What is dopamine?
This type of drug works by blocking dopamine receptors, reducing excessive dopamine activity in conditions like schizophrenia.
This major safety risk occurs with opioids and benzodiazepines, requiring emergency intervention.
What is overdose (or respiratory depression)?
This type of antidepressant is safer than older classes like TCAs and MAOIs but may still cause weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and serotonin syndrome.
What are SSRIs?
Patients on benzodiazepines or opioids should avoid alcohol and CNS depressants due to this serious risk.
What is respiratory depression (or sedation/overdose)?