Pharmacology

Limbic System and Reticular Activating System (RAS)

• deepest stage of sleep and necessary to prevent feeling tired and depressed
• patients who are deprived of this stage experience depression and a feeling of apathy and fatigue
• linked to repair and restoration of the physical body
• sleep walking and nightmares in children happen in this stage

• Buspirone
• may take several weeks to see effects
• MOA: unclear, but may be related to dopamine receptors-high affinity for serotonin (inhibitory) receptors and agonistic effect on dopamin (inhibitory) receptors
• SE: dizziness, headache, drowsiness

Somnambulance- doing things in your sleep and having no recollection

• due to stressful environment
• can motivate ppl to get things done
• most ppl learn to cope and dont get med help

Cause Must be Determined

effective treatment for anxiety

• medication of choice to manage various anxiety disorders and insomnia due to low risk of abuse/dependence
• Alcohol withdraw
• seizure treatment (valium)
• central muscle relaxation
• induction agent in general anesthesia

binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-chloride molecule by intensifying effects of GABA (inhibitory) neurotransmitter

• Very few side effects
• weight gain and sexual dysfunction (2 biggest reasons patients do not comply)

• Tyramine (naturally occuring monoamine acts as a catecholamine) foods containing: aged cheeses, avacadoes, bananas, eggplant, oranges, plums, processed foods, soy
• also avoid caffeine-can cause hypertensive crisis

b/c they have serious side effects

cycles of mania and depression

highest risk for suicide

• patients must have their levels checked b/c can become too toxic or too low and still have episodes of mania
• Therapeutic range 0.6-1.2
• Stabilized patients should be able to explain the sins and symptoms of toxicity and how to avoid it.
• good choice for bipolar

• children stabilized on meds should be able to have normal play with peers
• avoid appetite suppression by giving med after meals and snacks

occur during the winter months when there is limited sum exposure

prevent depression by preventing the destruction of Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, and Serotonin

being withdrawn, not talking, and not interacting with the environment

• Anticholinergic side effects
• urinary retention, dry mouth...

unusual tongue and facial movements (lip smacking and wormlike tongue movements) that come with use of anipsychotic meds

• Atypical antipsychotic
• used to treat sschizophrenia
• can cause serious side effects-low white blood count that can be life threatening
• treats positive and negative symptoms

• used to reat overdose of narcotics, including PCA pumps
• completely reverses the effects of the narcotics, including bringing back the pain

assess the patients pain level on a scale of 1-10

Respiratory depression

• ringing in ears
• an adverse side effect of Aspirin therapy

• hepatotoxic
• contraindicated for patients with liver disease and alcoholics

dull, aching pain

vasoconstriction of certain intracranial arteries

example- alcoholic patient requiring additional anesthesia for surgery

cardiac dysrhythias and death

higher risk for lung cancer

tremors, anxiety, confusion, and delirium

most serious side effect of inhaled anethesia

Epinephrine

headache