Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Central Nervous System Drugs- Ch. 14
- Slows neuronal activity in the
brain.
- Alters epinephrine and norepinephrine
- Continuum ranging from
relaxation, to sedation, to
anesthesia
- Sedatives:
Relaxes the
patient
- Hypnotics:
Induces sleep in
the patient
- Sedative-hypnotic:
Calms at lower
doses, causes sleep
at higher doses
- Tranquilizers:
Produces a calm
or tranquil feeling
- Withdrawal can cause
fever; psychosis; seizures;
tachycardia; hypotension;
anorexia; muscle cramps;
memory, concentration,
and orientation
impairment; abnormal
sounds in the ear; blurred
vision; and insomnia,
agitation, and anxiety
- Obvious symptoms last
2-4 wks; subtle can last
months
- Antidepressants
- Treats GAD, OCD,
panic, social phobia,
and PTSD
- Can reduce the
negative thoughts
associated
w/anticipatory
component of panic
- Can also suppress ANS,
helping pt. remain
calm
- SSRIs: Safer
and w/less
sympathomimetic
&
anticholinergic
effects
- Atypicals, including
SNRIs: Side effects
include abnormal
dreams, sweating,
constipation, dry
mouth, anorexia,
weight loss, tremor,
abnormal vision, and
loss of sexual desire
- TCAs: Annoying
anticholinergic effects,
such as dry mouth,
blurred vision, urine
retention, and
hypertension
- Not recommended
for pt. with a history
of heart attack,heart
blocks, or
arrhythmia.
- Most are pregnancy
category C or D
- Alcohol or other CNS
depressants are off
limtis
- Pt. w/ asthma, GI disorders,
alcoholism, schizophrenia, or
bipolar should be cautious
- MAOIs: Can cause
orthostatic hypotension,
headache, and diarrhea,
- Pt. should strictly
avoid foods
containing tyramine
- Potentiate
effects of insulin
& other diabetic
drugs
- Rarely used due to
potential for severe
adverse effects
- Benzodiazepines
- Most widely prescribed
in medicine
- Act by binding to GABA
receptor-chloride channel
molecule, which intensifies
effects of GABA
- Most are metabolized in
liver & excreted in urine
- Does not cause
life-threatening
respiratory depression
unless taken in large
quantities, combined
w/other CNS depressions,
or given to pt. w/sleep
apnea.
- Shortens length of
time to get to sleep
and reduces
frequency of
interrupted sleep
- Most increase total
sleep time, btut some
reduce stage 3 and
some affect REM
- Can be used for seizure
disorders (Valium),
alcohol withdrawal,
central muscle
relaxation, and general
anesthesia.
- Many of these have
the same actions
and adverse effects,
and differ primarily
in onset and
duration of action.
- Preferred for
short term
treatment of
insomnia
caused by
anxiety.
- Class IV drugs
- Barbiturates
- Treatment of choice for
anxiety and insomnia
prior to introduction of
benzos
- Rarely, if ever, given for
anxiety or insomnia
anymore b/c of significant
adverse effects and better
medications
- Risk of dependence is high;
withdrawal is severe and
sometimes fatal; OD can
cause profound respiratory
depression, hypotension,
and shock
- Several are
class II
- Bind to GABA
receptor-chloride
channel and intensify
effects of GABA
- Capable of depressing
CNS function at all
levels
- When taken for
prolonged periods, they
stimulate microsomal
enzymes.
- Simulates their
own metabolism,
as well as that of
hundreds of
other drugs
- Tolerance can develop to
this drug and to other CNS
depressants, such as
opioids.
- Miscellaneous
- Used mainly for
social anxiety:
- Valproate (Depakote)
- Propranolol (Inderal)
and atenolol
(Tenormin)
- Used mainly for
insomnia:
- Zaleplon (Sonata)
- Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
- Zolpiden (Ambien)
- Anxiolytic &
hypnotic effect
- Hypnotic effect
- Buspirone (BuSpar):
- Mechanism unclear,
but r/t D2 dopamine
receptors in brain
- Agonist effects on
presynaptic dopamine
& high affinity for
serotonin
- Less likely than benzos
to affect cognitive &
motor performance
- Rarely interacts w/other
CNS depressants
- Common side effects:
Dizziness, headache, and
drowsiness
- Less of a chance of
dependence. May take a
couple weeks to work.
- Anxiolytic effect
- Zolpidem (Ambien,
Edluar, Intermezzo):
- Class IV, short-term insomnia
treatment
- Highly specific to GABA
- Produces muscle relaxation
and anti-convulsant effects
when given higher than
therapeutic dose
- Rapid onset
- Impaired liver or kidney
will increase serum lvl of
drug
- Use w/ caution in suicidal
patients b/c intentional
overdose can happen.
- Adverse effects may include
nausea, dizziness, diarrhea,
daytime drowsiness, amnesia,
and somnambulism
- Rebound insomnia can occur
when discontinued
- Long-term use allowed
- Escopiclone (Lunesta)
- Similar properties to
zolpidem
- Longer elimination half
life may give it an
advantage over
zolpidem in
maintaining sleep &
decreasing early
morning waking
- More likely to cause
daytime sedation
- Zaleplon (Sonata)
- Useful for ppl who fall
asleep but wake early
in the morning
- Sometimes used for travel
- Ramelton (Rozerem)
- Melatonin receptior
agonist
- Shown to improve sleep
induction
- Short onset of action,
lasts as long as XR
zolpidem
- Long-term use allowed
- Hypnotic effect
- Tasimelteon (Hetlioz
- Melatonin receptor agonist
- Treatment of non-24
hour sleep-wake disorder
- Most common effects
are headaches and
uncommon dreams
- Avoid concurrent
use w/ fluvoxamine
(Luvox) or rifampin
(Rifandin)
- Long-term use allowed