Anxiety & Stress Disorders
These are the two main groups of medications used to treat anxiety disorders.
What are benzodiazepines and SSRIs?
SSRIs work by blocking the reuptake of this neurotransmitter.
What is serotonin?
This classic mood stabilizer is considered first-line therapy for bipolar disorder.
What is lithium?
These medications are considered first-line treatment for schizophrenia.
What are second- and third-generation (atypical) antipsychotics?
This class of drugs is used to manage Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease by increasing acetylcholine.
What are cholinesterase inhibitors?
Benzodiazepines enhance the effects of this inhibitory neurotransmitter.
What is GABA?
SNRIs block the reuptake of serotonin and this additional neurotransmitter.
What is norepinephrine?
The therapeutic serum range for lithium is between these two values.
What is 0.6–1.2 mEq/L?
Name one serious complication of atypical antipsychotics.
What is diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, or sexual dysfunction?
List two symptoms of a cholinergic crisis using the SLUDGE acronym.
What are salivation, lacrimation, urination, diarrhea, GI cramping, emesis, bradycardia, bronchospasm, or bronchorrhea?
This atypical anxiolytic is preferred for patients who cannot tolerate benzodiazepines.
What is buspirone?
This atypical antidepressant is also used for smoking cessation.
What is bupropion?
Name one early sign of lithium toxicity.
What are GI distress, tremors, or polyuria?
Conventional (first-generation) antipsychotics are contraindicated in patients with this neurological disorder.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
This medication combination is the gold standard for Parkinson’s disease treatment.
What is levodopa/carbidopa?
Name one disorder SSRIs can treat besides generalized anxiety disorder.
What are OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, or social anxiety disorder?
Name one complication of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA)
What is sedation, anticholinergic effects, or orthostatic hypotension?
Besides lithium, this class of medications can also be used as mood stabilizers.
What are antiepileptics?
Which drug interaction counteracts the effects of conventional antipsychotics?
What is levodopa?
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) help control seizures by slowing the reentry of these two ions into neurons.
What are sodium and calcium?
Which drug is the antidote for benzodiazepine toxicity?
What is flumazenil?
MAOIs can cause hypertensive crisis when combined with foods high in this compound.
What is tyramine?
Severe lithium toxicity occurs at serum levels greater than this value.
What is >2.5 mEq/L?
Atypical antipsychotics can increase levels of this hormone, leading to galactorrhea and gynecomastia.
What is prolactin?
Name one teratogenic effect associated with antiepileptic medications in pregnancy.
What are cleft palate, neural tube defects, or heart defects?