Nonadherence with Antipsychotics Quiz

Antipsychotics and Anxiolytics

• Antipsychotics are the preferred name for the group of drugs used to manage symptoms of psychosis and anxiety disorders.
• The term for drugs that modify psychotic behavior and have an antipsychotic effect is neuroleptics.
• Psychosis is a mental disorder category characterized by symptoms such as disorganized thinking, memory difficulty, and decreased ability to focus attention.
• Manifestations of psychosis are usually characterized by disorganized thinking, hallucinations, and delusions.

Schizophrenia

• Positive symptoms of schizophrenia may be characterized by exaggeration of normal function and incoherent speech.
• Cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia are characterized by disorganized thinking, memory difficulty, and decreased ability to focus attention.
• The major category of psychosis in which many symptoms like disorganized thinking and hallucinations are manifested is schizophrenia.

Anxiolytics

• Anxiolytics refer to drugs that are used to treat anxiety disorders.
• Anxiolytics are used to treat anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.
• Benzodiazepines are the most common type of anxiolytics.

Benzodiazepines

• The recommended maximum duration for prescribing benzodiazepines is 2-4 weeks.
• The primary difference between primary anxiety and secondary anxiety is that primary anxiety is a primary symptom, whereas secondary anxiety is a secondary symptom.
• Alprazolam is a medication that has fewer side effects of sedation and physical and psychological dependency associated with many benzodiazepines.
• Action should be taken before giving anxiolytics, such as evaluating the patient's history and assessing the risk of dependence.
• 80-90% of benzodiazepines are highly protein-bound.
• Benzodiazepines are contraindicated during pregnancy due to their potential to cause harm to the fetus.
• Buspirone hydrochloride is expected to be effective after 2-4 weeks of continuous use.
• Alprazolam is the most frequently prescribed benzodiazepine.
• Abruptly discontinuing benzodiazepines can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

Atypical Antipsychotics

• Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent indicated only for the treatment of severely ill schizophrenics who have not responded to traditional antipsychotic drugs.
• Paliperidone is an atypical antipsychotic agent and the major active metabolite of risperidone, available as an extended-release tablet with once-a-day dosing.
• Haloperidol belongs to the group of nonphenothiazine drugs called butyrophenones.
• The most common side effect for all antipsychotics is extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).
• Atypical antipsychotic agents are effective in treating both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Two advantages of atypical antipsychotic agents over typical agents are that they have a lower risk of EPS and are more effective in treating negative symptoms.

Other

• The major anxiolytic group primarily used to treat anxiety and insomnia is benzodiazepines.
• Antipsychotics can increase blood pressure.
• A common side effect of atypical antipsychotics is weight gain.
• The Black-Box Warning related to the use of antipsychotics in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis is an increased risk of mortality.
• The main theory behind the cause of psychotic symptoms is the dopamine hypothesis.
• Typical antipsychotics are more helpful for managing positive symptoms.
• The immediate treatment for neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is discontinuation of the antipsychotic and supportive care.
• Common symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include abnormal involuntary movements of the face, tongue, and limbs.
• The group of phenothiazines that produces a strong sedative effect and may cause moderate extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) is the aliphatic phenothiazines.