Seizures
Some anti-seizure medications work by __________ GABA inhibition, while others work by __________ the effects of excitatory amino acids/neurotransmitters.
Increasing; Decreasing
The enzyme that converts L-DOPA to dopamine
Dopa Decarboxylase
Depression is caused by a defect in these biogenic amines
Norepinephrine; Dopamine; Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine)
Drugs that selectively affect the re-uptake of serotonin AND norepinephrine, thus prolonging the effects caused by these neurotransmitters
Serotonin-norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
Disease caused by a decrease in dopamine, thus resulting in a higher concentration of ACh
Parkinson's Disease
The type of seizure that begins in a single localized area
Focal (partial) Seizure
Dopamine Agonists
The adverse effect characterized by the patient forgetting things that happened before administering the drug
Anterograde Amnesia
Name one of the SSRI drugs and its mechanism of action
Paroxetine (Paxil) or Fluoxetine (Prozac); Prevents the re-uptake of serotonin into the presynaptic terminal
Drugs with the suffix of "pam" of "lam"
Benzodiazepines
It is only safe to discontinue seizure medications if the patient is free of seizures for __________, has good seizure control __________ after the seizures begin, or has a normal neurologic exam prior to the withdraw.
2+ years; 1 year
The term used to describe what happens when a patient cannot move, or decreased response to drug, because the drug was completely metabolized in the body
End-of-Dose Akinesia
Antidepressants may take __________ before they begin working, and may take __________ to reach peak effects.
1-2 weeks; 6 weeks
This Alzheimer's Disease drug blocks NMDA-glutamate receptors in the brain in order to "normalize" the glutamate activity
The drug discovered by accident the was originally created to treat influenza, but actually decreases dyskinesia in PD
Amantadine (Symmetrel)
This subclass of of anti-seizure medications has milder side effects and allows for more drug combinations when compared to "Primary Anti-Seizure Agents"
Second Generation Anti-Seizure Drugs
The TWO "bodyguard" drugs for L-DOPA to help it reach the blood-brain barrier safely without being converted to dopamine or broken down into various byproducts
Carbidopa and COMT Inhibitors
At what range of Lithium blood-serum level does lithium toxicity begin to occur?
1.5 mEq/L (2.0+ requires treatment)
The sedative-hypnotic drug, also in the "Z" class, that binds to GABA-A in the brain
Zolpidem (Ambien)
The enzyme that breaks down L-DOPA in the peripheral tissues, and has a drug to prevent this from occurring
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)
False
Drugs that will prolong the effects of dopamine in the brain by inhibiting an enzyme that would normally degrade dopamine
MAO-B Inhibitors (they inhibit the monoamine oxidase type B enzyme responsible for breaking down dopamine)
The increased concentration of amine transmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in the synapse will increase __________, which causes neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
What drug class is Amitriptyline (Elavil) and what is the mechanism of action?
Tricyclic; Prevent the re-uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine
The enzyme that breaks down ACh and has a class of drugs designed to inhibit this action, thus increasing ACh activity in the brain. (Bonus: What condition is this used for?)
Cholinesterase (Indirect Cholinergic Stimulants); Dementia