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Title

Pharmacology for Dialysis Practitioners, Part 2: Anticonvulsants and Psychotropics (1.5 credit hours)

Abstract

This course describes and examines the differences in action between the drug classes used to manage disorders of the central nervous system. First, the module describes the general mechanism of action and side-effects of seizure-controlling anticonvulsants. This is followed by an examination of primary and secondary effects of common classes of sedatives and anxiolytics. The module concludes with a detailed overview of psychotropic drugs in relation to their uses in treatment of specific psychiatric disorders: Antipsychotics, antidepressants (including MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and SSRI’s), and the antimaniac, lithium.

Planners, content specialists and feedback personnel have declared that there is no conflict of interest in the preparation and content of this module. There is no commercial support for or endorsement of products in this module.

Author

Dan Becker, D.D.S

Dr. Becker received his bachelor of science in zoology from Ohio University in 1968 and his doctor of dental surgery from Ohio State University in 1972. Although Dr. Becker is a dentist, his interest always centered on academia and he began teaching biology at Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH) as a part-time instructor in the autumn of 1972. He accepted a full-time faculty position in the Dental Hygiene department in 1976, but continued his teaching within the Biology department as well.

Dr. Becker's interest in pharmacology and anesthesia attracted him to Miami Valley Hospital where he became involved with their dental residency instructing dental residents and learning from mentors during rotations within departments of anesthesia and emergency medicine. During this time, he developed and taught courses in pharmacology and pathophysiology for nursing and other allied health programs until his teaching at Sinclair became entirely devoted to these subject areas. Currently he is a full professor at Sinclair Community College and Associate Director of Education at Miami Valley Hospital. He has published in numerous scientific journals and textbooks, and lectures extensively throughout the United States and Canada.

Objectives

Describe the general mechanism of action and side effects for anticonvulsants, and state the three agents used most often to control grand mal seizures.
State the primary and secondary effects common to most classes of sedatives and anxiolytics. Name the prototype for each of the three principal drug classes used as sedatives.
State the prototype of antipsychotic drugs and state its common side effects.
State the prototype and distinguish the actions, side effects and drug interactions for 3 classes of antidepressants.
Name three drugs commonly used to manage manic disorders

Resources

Bibliography

Abramowicz M. (Editor) Drugs for epilepsy. In: The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics. 2001;43:84-98.

Abramowicz M. (Editor) Drugs for psychiatric disorders. In: The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics. 1997;39 :127-145.

Abramowicz M. (Editor) Drugs for depression and anxiety. In: The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics. 2001;43:73-83

Baldessarini RJ. Drugs and the treatment of psychiatric disorders: Depression and anxiety disorders. In Hardman JG, Limbird LE, Eds. Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 10th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

Baldessarini RJ. Drugs and the treatment of psychiatric disorders: Psychosis and mania. In Hardman JG, Limbird LE, Eds. Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 10th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

Brodie MJ, Dichter MA. Antiepileptic drugs. N Engl J Med 1996;334(3):168-175

Brodie MJ, French JA. Management of epilepsy in adolescents and adults. Lancet 2000;356:323-29

Olin BR, Hebel SK, Dombek CE, editors. Drug Facts and Comparisons. 2003 edition. St Louis: Facts and Comparisons, Inc 2003.

Webliography

General Info

Page Name: Neurology
URL: http://www.bartleby.com/107/183.html
Notes: Explanations & Illustrations of parts of the nervous system, from Gray's Anatomy.

Anticonvulsants

Page Name: Introduction to Epilepsy
URL: http://www.epilepsytoronto.org/courseindex.html
Notes: From a website called EpilepsyToronto.com, has links to explanations of epileptic and non-epileptic seizures and associated topics.

Page Name: Epilepsy Foundation of America
URL: http://www.efa.org/
Notes: Epilepsy Foundation of America home page

Sedatives and Anxiolytics

Page Name: History of Barbituates
URL: http://chemcases.com/pheno/pheno01.htm
Notes: A short history of the development of barbiturates.

Page Name: Barbituates And Epilepsy
URL: http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/barb03.htm
Notes: A history of barbituate use to treat epileptic seizures.

Psychotropic Drugs

Page Name: An Introduction to Schizophrenia
URL: http://www.schizophrenia.com/ami/index.html
Notes: A great reference with links to pages covering basic and clinical/professional info on schizophrenia. (From schizophrenia.com, whose homepage is listed below.)

Page Name: Schizophrenia.com
URL: http://www.schizophrenia.com/
Notes: Homepage for schizophrenia.com, with links to info pages.

Page Name: Medications
URL: http://www.schizophrenia.com/meds.html
Notes: Also from schizophrenia.com, a page with lots of info on medications used to treat schizophrenia.

Page Name: Major Depression
URL: http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-md01.html
Notes: Comprehensive info on Major Depression.

Page Name: Bipolar Disorder
URL: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm
Notes: Info on manic depression from National Institutes of Mental Health, including info on mania.

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