Biological Basis for Understanding Psychotropic drugs
Functions of the BrainMonitorRegulateInitiate and Maintain basic drives MediateStore/RetrieveThink LanguageProcess
Brain 101 Review
•Neurons▫Neurotransmitters:
Dopamine: fine muscle movement, integration of emotion & thoughts, decision making
Norepinephrine: affects mood, fight/ flight response
Serotonin: sleep regulation, pain perception, sexual behavior & agression
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA): plays role in inhibition, muscle relaxing properties
Acetylcholine: role in learning, memory, regulates mood, sexual drive
Anatomy of the brain
•Major areas▫Brainstem▫Cerebellum▫Cerebrum▫Limbic System: This is the area that is
located right above the brainstem which is responsible for controlling emotions
Cheat sheet
•Serotonin: Depression or anxiety related•Norepinephrine: Bipolar (deals with flight
or fight response), mania, anxiety•Dopamine: Schizophrenic disorders and
ADHD•Acetylcholine: Alzheimers related•GABA: Anxiety disorders, Schizophrenia
Psychotropic Drugs
• Basic Side Effects for Consideration:▫Changes in basic drives▫Sleep patterns▫Body movement▫Autonomic functions
The ideal drug would relieve mental disturbance without inducing untoward mental or physical side effects!
On your own:
•You may want to review the Brain Imaging Techniques (PET/ MRI/ CT) that are normally used for diagnostics.
•Similarly your book describes the visual images that you can expect from the disorders we will be discussing.
Anti-AnxietyBenzodiazepine: binds GABAGABA: Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that
suppresses the ability of the neurons to fire. This results in CNS depression and reduction in anxiety, skeletal muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and seizures.-KLONOPIN-TRANXENE-VALIUM (diazepam)-ATIVAN (lorazepam)-XANAX (alprazolam)
* NOT TO BE TAKEN WITH ALCOHOL & OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS
Side effects: sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, coordination problems BUSPAR (not a CNS depressant) ; has less sedative properties, much better tolerated than most benzos, no addictive potential
Bipolar DisorderManic Phase Drugs: Lithium-action is not fully understood but alters
multiple neurotransmitters to normalize transmission of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine
*Lithium monitor for toxicity >2.5 can lead to death.
ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS:Depakote (Divalproex)-alters GABA
mediated neurotransmissionTegretol-anticonvulsant
Bipolar (con’t)Other Agents
Valproate (Depakene)-antiepilepticLamictal- antiepilepticNeurontin -antiepilepticTopamax- antiepileptic
Klonopin (Clonazepam): a benzodiazepine used for anxiety, strong sedating properties; calms rapidly, used w/ Lithium ..however, clients can develop a tolerance and dependence
Typical Antipsychotic Drugs
•Blocks attachment of Dopamine (typical)•Typical: phenothiazines becoming obsolete
because of side effects and they only target Positive symptoms of Schizophrenia
•Thorazine (most sedative)/ Haldol (least sedative)
• Two Main Concerns: • The blockage of Dopamine can lead to extrapyramidal
side effects such as; parkinsonism, dyskinesia, akathisia, muscle stiffness.
• These agents cause severe anticholinergic effects
Atypical Antipsychotics
•Binds to Dopamine receptors in the limbic system
•Decrease motor side effects•Target positive and negative symptoms of
Schizophrenia•Less side effects!!!- Clozapine (can cause agranulocytosis)- Risperidone- Olanzapine and Geodon
Antidepressant Drugs
•Typical antidepressants:-Tricyclic (TCA’s)- Elavil- NortriptylineWork by blocking reuptake of
norepinephrine and serotoninSide Effects: Anticholinergic in nature, this
really affects compliance
Antidepressant Drugs
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• -Prozac• -Zoloft• -Paxil* Effective yet:*Less anticholinergic
effects than TCA’s * Less sedative than
TCA’s
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
• -Marplan• -Nardil• -Parnate
How this works: Monoamine neurotransmitters are destroyed by the enzyme Monoamine oxidase; MAOI drugs inhibit the enzyme, so that the transmitters can get where they need to be.
Heterocyclic (Novel) Antidepressants
•These differ structurally from the TCA’s, SSRI’s, and MAOI’s▫Wellbutrin (also used for smoking cessation by
inhibiting the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors which cause the addiction)
▫Effexor▫CymbaltaThe novel antidepressants act differently because each
acts on a different neurotransmitter or group of
neurotransmitters
Top Related