Medication used in Mental Health August2013GSHarnisch

 Anti-psychotics  Anti-depressants  Anti-anxiety  Mood stabilisers  Sleeping pills  Medication to manage side-effects 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Common used drugs in Psychiatry

 All medication have side effects  All medication interact with each other  Some medication, herbs, drugs or food should not be taken together for example:  champix with clozapine  citalopram with alcohol, St. John’s Wart  Tegretol and grapefruit juice  update0206d.shtml update0206d.shtml 16/06/2013GSHarnisch All Medication

16/06/2013GSHarnisch Name of commonly used antipsychotics  Clozapine - Clozaril  Olanzapine - Zyprexa  Quetiapine - Seroquel  Risperidone - Risperdal

 Some are given by injection  Others are given by tablets Injections have the advantage that one does not have to remember to take the medication every day. 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Anti-psychotics: Administration

They are not a cure but are given to manage the symptoms of psychosis for example they may:  control anxiety and serious agitation, so that the person getting the medication feels less threatened  reduce incoherent speech and muddled thinking  reduce confusion  lessen delusions and hallucinations  reduce violent, disruptive behaviour  reduce mania. 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Antipsychotics: Effects

 Most antipsychotics block one of the brain chemicals that carry messages between cells in different areas of the brain (dopamine).  Blocking that chemical reduces the flow of messages  Most antipsychotics affect other brain chemicals too, and this causes some of the side effects. 16/06/2013GSHarnisch How do antipsychotics work?

 effects on the heart  drowsiness  dry mouth which can cause tooth decay  blurred vision  dizziness  feeling sick  difficulty passing water  rapid heartbeat 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Side - Effects

 weight gain and obesity  high blood sugar and diabetes  high blood pressure  high cholesterol.  eye problems – cataract  constipation which may be severe enough to be life- threatening if not treated  low blood pressure  restlessness 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Side - Effects

_juliana_onwumere_video_4 16/06/2013GSHarnisch How can I persuade my relative to take medication?

Obtain information on medication including hand-outs only from the medsafe website: Or from: podcasts/201-antipsychotic-medication 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Medication

Types of antidepressants used most commonly: (there are more than 10 types)  Tricyclics  Amitriptyline  Clomipramine  Imipramine  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)  Citalopram  Paroxetine  Fluoxetine - Prozac 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Antidepressant Drugs

 Drowsiness  Dry mouth  Blurred vision  Constipation  Urinary retention  Dizziness  Delayed orgasm and low sex drive, particularly in men  Increased heart rate  Disorientation or confusion 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Antidepressant side effects - summary

 Low blood pressure, which can cause light- headedness  Increased appetite  Weight gain  Fatigue  Headache 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Antidepressant side effects - summary

 dizziness  dry mouth  feeling agitated or shaky  not sleeping well or, alternatively, feeling very sleepy  loss of appetite  yawning  excessive sweating 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Antidepressant side effects - summary

Serotonin syndrome:  confusion  agitation  muscle twitching  sweating  shivering  diarrhoea 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Antidepressant side effects - summary

Benzodiazepines:  Lorazepam - Ativan  Oxazepam - Serax  Diazepam - Valium 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Antianxiety-Benzodiazepines

 Addictive  Paradoxical syndrome 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Antianxiety-Benzodiazepines side effects - summary

 Carbamazepine – Tegretol  Sodium Valporate - Epilim 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Anticonvulsants

 sedation  cognitive impairments  Tremor  low blood pressure  liver and kidney effected  dizziness  Tiredness  lowered white blood cells 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Anticonvulsants – side effects summary

 nose bleeds  cold-like symptoms  headache  feeling sick  muscle and joint pain  difficulty sleeping  constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion and/or flatulence (passing wind) 16/06/2013GSHarnisch Statins- cholesterol lowering medication side effects

 feeling drowsy  pain around your kidney area (on the side of the lower back)  a dry cough  dizziness, faintness or light-headedness  a skin rash 16/06/2013GSHarnisch High blood pressure (hypertension)medication – side effects