The following video is a short overview on the pharmacological basis of SSRIs side effects. Outline: Facts about SSRIs adverse effects. Gastrointestinal adverse effects. 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors in the GI tract. 5-HT3 receptors in the brainstem and hypothalamus. CNS adverse effects. 5-HT2A receptor stimulation at the basal ganglia. 5-HT2A and 2C receptors are hypothetically…
Category Archives: Antidepressants
Differences between tricyclic antidepressants and SNRIs mechanism of action
Images, mindmaps and tables integration of both TCAs and SNRIs MOA. Muscarinic, histaminic and alpha 1 receptors blockade determines TCAs
Serotonin (5-HT): receptors, agonists and antagonists
Serotonin receptors characteristics, classification and drugs that influence serotonergic transmission. Pharmacology review.
Aripiprazole (Abilify) not approved for bipolar disorder
According to a press release, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) did not accept aripiprazole for the treatment of manic episodes in bipolar I disorder and for the prevention of new manic episodes. According to the SMC, the manufacturer did not present a sufficiently robust economic analysis to gain acceptance. Psychiatrist Daniel Carlat from “The Carlat…
Agomelatine (Valdoxan) for major depressive episodes
Agomelatine (Valdoxan, Melitor, Thymanax) is a recently marketed new drug for the treatment of major depression with a novel mechanism of action. It can be included in the class of “other antidepressants”, or classified as a melatonergic drug. Mechanism of action Agomelatine acts as an agonist on melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors. Additionally, it blocks…
PowerPoint slideshow lectures: overview on antidepressants pharmacology
PowerPoint lectures on antidepressants pharmacology. MOA, pharmacokinetics, indications, and side effects of: tryciclics, SSRIs, heterocyclics, MAO inhibitors.
Analysis of antidepressants effectiveness in adolescents: InfoPOEMs podcast
Essential Evidence Plus, formerly InfoPOEMs is a service by John Wiley and Sons that aims to give physicians succinct medical evidence that will impact in their medical practice. In this podcast Dr. Ebell and Dr. Wilkes (National Public Radio) discuss the POEM titled: “Antidepressants only modestly effective for adolescent depression” Listen to the podcast on…
NPS: Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) not superior to venlafaxine for major depressive disorder
The National Prescribing Service Limited (Australia) made an independent evaluation on the role of desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Summary: Desvenlafaxine is the active metabolite of venlafaxine. There is no evidence that desvenlafaxine is more effective, safer or better tolerated than venlafaxine or other antidepressants. Doses above 50 mg/day are unlikely…
MCQs for USMLE review on psychopharmacology: antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants and lithium
These pharmacology MCQs from the UMKC School of Medicine have a different degree of difficulty, but are useful to review pharmacology of psychotropics. Psychotropics Item Number: 11667 correct answer: 4 category: Psychotropics 1. The symptoms of tardive dyskinesia will acutely improve with: 1. administration of diphenhydramine 2. administration of amantadine 3. administration of bromocriptine 4….
Antidepressants podcast: comments on the latest ACP clinical guidelines
Essential Evidence Plus, formerly InfoPOEMs is a service by John Wiley and Sons that aims to give physicians succinct medical evidence that will impact in their medical practice. In this podcast Dr. Ebell and Dr. Wilkes (National Public Radio) discuss the POEM that analyzes the ACP guidelines (published in Annals of Internal Medicine) on antidepressants….
Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA): the case of the serotonin hypothesis and SSRIs ads
I would like to recommend Pharmamotion readers one of the most popular articles in PLoS Medicine: Serotonin and Depression: A Disconnect between the Advertisements and the Scientific Literature. Jeffrey R. Lacasse, Jonathan Leo The article is a definitely a must read for those interested in direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) issues. However,for those who don’t have enough…
Serotonin syndrome
Serotonin syndrome is a predictable clinical feature that involves excess serotonergic agonism of central nervous system (CNS) receptors and peripheral serotonergic receptors. The following PowerPoint was published on Stanford School of Medicine’s Scalpel: Serotoninn syndrome features Download: Serotonin syndrome PPT file MedExcel posted recently a mnemonic to remember the clinical components of serotonin syndrome Causes HARM:…
Duloxetine (Cymbalta, Yentreve): a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor for major depression. Australian prescriber review
From Australian Prescriber: Duloxetine Cymbalta (Eli Lilly) 30 mg and 60 mg capsules Approved indication: major depression Australian Medicines Handbook section 18.1.2 Duloxetine is a new antidepressant which selectively inhibits serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake. It also weakly inhibits dopamine uptake. (See details of its mechanism of action)
SSRIs, SNRIs and SSNRIs: clinical guideline by the ACP
The American College of Physicians has issued a Clinical Practice Guideline about the use of Second-Generation Antidepressants in the treatment of Depressive Disorders. The recommendations that arise from it are the following: Recommendation 1: The American College of Physicians recommends that when clinicians choose pharmacologic therapy to treat patients with acute major depression, they select…
