Benzodiazepines     Correct  Answer  -       Includes "Pams" Alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, clonazepam, chlordiazepoxide, chlorazepate

Enhances GABA: increased GABA means decreased neuron activity

Treats anxiety, PTSD, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasm, induction of anesthesia

Usually short term; if long term do NOT stop abruptly

Antidote is flumazenil

Side effects: CNS depression - sedation and respiratory depression, amnesia, dependency, and withdrawal effects

Atypical anxiolytic     Correct  Answer  -       Buspirone

Can take 2-6 weeks to work, but can be long term!

Treats panic disorder, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD

Side effects: dizziness, nausea (take w/ food to relieve), headache (sedation and dependency is not seen like in benzo)

Trick to remember difference between Benzodiazepine and buspirone     Correct  Answer  -       "Pam" has anxiety, so she goes on a "benzo" and takes it for a long time but realizes that it is not healthy. So she takes a "bus" to a "pier" to sit "alone" and decides to treat her anxiety long term with "buspirone"

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)     Correct  Answer  -       Usually end in "ine": paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine

Inhibits serotonin reuptake" increases serotonin

Treats anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and depression

Side effects: nausea, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, insomnia (paroxetine), serotonin syndrome (agitation, hallucinations, tremors, fever, diaphoresis)

Takes about four weeks after treatment begins to take full effect.

Atypical Antidepressants     Correct  Answer  -       Bupropion, Trazodone - more important

Others: Vilazodone, mirtazapine, reboxetine

Treats depression and aid for smoking cessation

Side effects: headache, GI distress, insomnia, nausea, weight loss, seizures

Tricyclic antidepressants     Correct  Answer  -       Amitriptyline

Treats depression, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, anxiety disorders, insomnia

Side effects: Anticholinergic effects, Sedation, Seizures, Sweating (SSS)

"Amy tripped over a tricycle in the desert."

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant and causes effects that make you feel like you're in the desert.

Anticholinergic efffects     Correct  Answer  -       dry mouth, blurred vision, photophobia, urinary hesitancy or retention, constipation, tachycardia