Bipolar drugs Flash Cards

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Title: Bipolar drugs
Description: drugs for bipolar disorder
Number of Cards: 4
Save Count: 0
Author: mangomegj7
Created: 2009-10-13
Tags: bipolar
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    • Question
    • Answer
    • Side 3
    • Lithium
    • Drug for bipolar disorder
      -acute therapy
      -drug of choice for euphoric mania- acts w/in 5-7 days
      -short half life-- 2x/day
    • Lithium ADRs
    • Therapeutic levels:
      -GI (N,V,D)-transient
      -Tremors (fine: hand)- beta blockers
      -thirst (polydipsia) + frequent urination (polyuria)
      -muscle weakness
      -lethargy, confusion, memory impairment, HA
      Higher Levels:
      -worsening of above
      -irritability, incoordination, seizures
      -ECG changes, hypotension
      -Renal toxicity (nephrotoxin)
      Less dose dependent
      -goiter and hypothyroidism
      -teratogenesis, possibly
    • Valproic acid (VPA) in bipolar
    • Mood-stabilizing AED
      -equally effective as lithium and usually preferred due to faster onset, fewer ADRs and easier to use
      -alters GABA mediated transmission
      A/E:
      -GI common
      -Hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis, thrombocytopenia (decrease platelets) all rare
    • Carbamazepine (in bipolar)
    • Mood-stabilizing AEDs
      -alternative drug: often favored to lithium (except for euphoric mania) due to fewer ADRs
      -less experience than VPA
      -mech not known
      A/E:
      -CNS (HA, ataxia) initially but tolerance develops
      -Hematologic rare
      -induces CYP 450 enzymes