The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 is intended to prevent the non-medical use of certain drugs, particularly those that can lead to dependency. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 sets up requirements for all providers of social care services for protecting people in relation to the risks presented by medicines. 1.2 The Medicines Act 1968 classifies medicines into three categories. Prescription only medicines which can only be bought from a pharmacist if prescribed by a doctor. These include antibiotics and medicines for diabetes and heart disease.
It has also been used for several types of dementias, including vascular dementia. (O'Mathuna, & Larimore, 2007). Ginkgo Boloba contains a variety of antioxidants that prevent oxidation reaction known to play a role in diseases of brain tissue. (O'Mathuna, & Larimore, 2007). Herbalists have been known to recommend ginkgo for depression, headache, tinnitus,
| |[pic][pic]A) Sinemet counteracts the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and restores the natural balance of neurotransmitters in the | |CNS. | |Feedback: INCORRECT | |This is not the mechanism of action for Sinemet. Anticholinergics such as benztropine (Cogentin) are used to block acetylcholine | |and restore neurotransmitter balance. | | | |[pic]B) Sinemet inhibits dopamine breakdown, leading to increased amounts of dopamine available in the CNS. | |Feedback: INCORRECT
Antidepressants on the other hand by balancing neurotransmitters such as serotonin and epinephrine witch can cause depression if not sufficiently balanced. Anxiolytic drugs are used to combat anxiety disorders one drug in this field is benzodiazepines (Bzs) they work by releasing more (GABA) witch slows down the nerve transmission calming people down. This drug is effective in areas such as phobias. Another biological therapy is ECT, it is a surgical based treatment commonly used on manic depressives who haven’t responded to antidepressants. This treatment is administrated to a patient by putting a patient into an unconscious state then passing a current of 0.6 amps through the brain.
Narcotic agonists-antagonists react with some opioid receptor sites to stimulate activity and block other opioid receptor sites. These drugs are not as addictive as pure narcotic agonists (p. 414). Narcotic antagonists, which work to reverse the effects of narcotics, are used to treat narcotic overdose or to reverse unacceptable adverse effects (p. 417). B) Describe the therapeutic actions, indications, contraindications, the most common adverse reactions, and important drug-drug interactions for a narcotic. The narcotic agonist act at specific opioid receptor sites in the CNS to produce analgesia, sedation, and a sense of well-being.
In general, a brain affected by Dementia produces less of some neurotransmitter. which sets off an imbalance in the brain. For Example, In Alzheimer's, Too little Dopamine effects the acetylcholine levels in the body and starts to block receptors , disabling the brain to reach the right signal to the intended brain cell. Amino Acids, Monoamines, Trace amines, Peptides and Gasotransmitters are some of the endogenous chemicals who’s function it is to allow the transmission of signals from one neuron to the next neuron across the synaptic Cleft. Only 100 chemical messengers have been found to date.
SSRI's are doctor prescribed medications designed to affect the neurotransmitter serotonin which regulates a person’s mood, anxiety levels, appetite and other bodily functions. Due to the fact that SSRI's control such vital mechanisms in the body, medication levels must be carefully customized to individual needs. Currently there are only two FDA approved medications for PTSD, Sertraline commonly known as Zoloft and Paroxetine better known as Paxil. Often times, victims of PTSD shy away from the medications available fearing dependence and, more notably, the common side effects of the medications. Both Zoloft and Paxil hold common side effects that include: anxiety, constipation, decreased sexual desire or ability, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, nervousness, upset stomach, tiredness, trouble sleeping, vomiting, and weight
Other psychiatric problems such as depression, Alzheimer’s, and dementia are not based on lab test either. Almost all of today’s known mental disorders would be eliminated and go untreated if we recognized diseases based solely on test done in a lab. However, recent studies think that have found the cause of ADHD. According to Health and Daily News “Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a real disease linked to changes in production of the brain chemical dopamine, two new reports suggest.” In the first report researchers found that a variation in the dopamine receptor gene may help cause the behavioral condition of ADHD. Lead researcher Dr. Phillip Shaw said, "If you have a certain variant of this gene, you have a greatly increased risk of having ADHD."
(Catherine Harrison, PhD, January 10, 2008) B. Drugs that remedy or lessen effects Antipsychotic and atypical antipsychotic drugs are used to treat this disorder such as: Risperidone and Clozapine among others. C. How these drugs help These medications cannot “cure” the illness, but they can take away many of the symptoms or make them milder. In some cases, they can shorten the course of an episode of the illness as well. These medications affect neurotransmitters that allow communication between nerve cells.
Chlorpromazine is a type of phenothiazine which is a neuroleptic. Chlorpromazine blocks dopamine receptors in the brain and has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on schizophrenic patients and alleviates symptoms. However, it is only effective on the positive symptoms of schizophrenia for example hallucinations and delusions, but does not appear to have any effect on the negative symptoms. Furthermore, only 70% of schizophrenics respond to chlorpromazine which suggests that it is not a complete treatment for schizophrenia. Those who are drug resistant may be offered clozapine which in an atypical drug and has a similar effect to chlorpromazine, reducing positive symptoms and some negative symptoms.