Pharmacodynamics of Antidepressants – PST05104 Pharmacology and Therapeutics
NTA Level 5 • Semester 1 • PST05104 Pharmacodynamics of Antidepressants Pharmacology and Therapeutics • Source Session/Topic 32 Full source-text version: all educational wording from the extracted learning source is retained; only presenter/tutor metadata and web-layout noise are removed, while formatting is improved for readability. Session 32: Pharmacodynamics of Antidepressants Total Session Time: 120 minutes Prerequisites None Learning Tasks By the end of this session students are expected to be able to: Explain pathophysiology of depression Describe mechanism of action of Antidepressants Describe drug interactions associated with Antidepressants Describe side effects of Antidepressants Describe contraindications of Antidepressants Resources Needed: Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape Black/white board and chalk/whiteboard markers Computer and LCD projector SESSION OVERVIEW Step Time Activity/ Content Step Time Activity/ Content Step Time Method Content Method Method 1 1 05 minutes 05 minutes Presentation Introduction, Learning tasks Introduction, Learning tasks Introduction, Learning tasks 2 2 20 minutes 20 minutes Presentation Pathophysiology of depression Pathophysiology of depression Pathophysiology of depression 3 3 45 minutes 45 minutes Presentation/ Mechanism of Action of Antidepressants Mechanism of Action of Antidepressants Mechanism of Action of Antidepressants 3 3 45 minutes 45 minutes Buzzing Mechanism of Action of Antidepressants Mechanism of Action of Antidepressants Mechanism of Action of Antidepressants Buzzing 4 4 20 minutes 20 minutes Presentation/ Drug Interactions Associated With Drug Interactions Associated With Drug Interactions Associated With 4 4 20 minutes 20 minutes brainstorming Antidepressants Antidepressants Antidepressants brainstorming Antidepressants Antidepressants Antidepressants 5 5 10 minutes 10 minutes Presentation Side Effects of Antidepressants Side Effects of Antidepressants Side Effects of Antidepressants PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics 251 251 251 NTA Level 5 Semester 1 Facilitator Guide NTA Level 5 Semester 1 Facilitator Guide 6 10 minutes Presentation/ Contraindications of Antidepressants 6 10 minutes Brainstorming Contraindications of Antidepressants Brainstorming 7 05 minutes Presentation Key Points 8 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics 252 NTA Level 5 Semester 1 Facilitator Guide SESSION CONTENTS STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5 minutes) READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks and clarify ASK students if they have any questions before continuing. STEP 2: Pathophysiology of Depression (20 minutes) Monoamine theory of depression suggest that depression is due to a cerebral deficiency of monoamines particularly noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and methyltyrosine. The following actions of drugs support the above theory: Reserpine -depletes neuronal stores of noradrenaline (NA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and α-methyltyrosine, which inhibits NA synthesis causing depression, Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) of the amitriptyline type (which raise the synaptic concentration of NA and 5HT) are antidepressant and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs, which increase total brain NA and 5HT) are antidepressant. Another theory of depression is the serotonin-only hypothesis. o This theory emphasizes the role of 5HT and downplays that of NA in the causation of depression, and is backed by the effectiveness of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRI class of drugs, in the treatment of depression. STEP 3: Mechanism of Action of Antidepressants (45 minutes) Activity: Buzzing (5 minutes) ASK students to pair up and buzz on the following question for 2 minutes How do antidepressants produce their pharmacological effects? ALLOW few pairs to respond and let other pairs add on points not mentioned WRITE their response on the flip chart/board CLARIFY and SUMMARIZE by using the content below Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) Examples include amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline, clomipramine, trimipramine, doxepin, maprotiline PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics 253 NTA Level 5 Semester 1 Facilitator Guide The monoamine hypothesis suggests that depression is caused by a deficiency of synaptic neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT), NA, and dopamine. Serotonin, in particular, is associated with mood. Normally, 5-HT and NA are released from presynaptic vesicles into the synaptic cleft, where they travel to postsynaptic receptors. Once released from these postsynaptic receptors, 5-HT and NA are removed from the synaptic cleft by reuptake transporters located on the presynapse. The TCAs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin (5-HT) and NA into the presynaptic cell body, increasing the amount of 5-HT and NA available to bind to postsynaptic receptors. TCAs antagonize other receptors: muscarinic, histamine (H1), adrenergic (α1) receptors. This accounts for their extensive list of side effects. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Examples include fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram and escitalopram. The monoamine hypothesis suggests that depression is caused by a deficiency of synaptic neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine, and dopamine. Serotonin, in particular, is associated with mood. Normally, 5-HT is released from presynaptic vesicles into the synaptic cleft, where it travels to postsynaptic receptors. Once released from these postsynaptic receptors, 5-HT is removed from the synaptic cleft by reuptake transporters located on the presynapse. Once it is taken up presynaptically, it is degraded. SSRIs bind to this reuptake transporter, preventing the removal of 5-HT and leading to increased 5-HT available to bind to postsynaptic receptors. Serotonin-Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) Examples include venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine and milnacipran Once released from these postsynaptic receptors, 5-HT and NA are removed from the synaptic cleft by reuptake transporters located on the presynapse. Once they are taken up presynaptically, they are degraded. SNRIs bind to these reuptake transporters, preventing the removal of 5-HT and NA and leading to increased availability to bind to postsynaptic receptors. Venlafaxine has much higher affinity for the serotonin reuptake transporter, and at low doses acts more like an SSRI. It is not until higher doses are used that it also blocks noradrenaline reuptake. o Conversely, milnacipran blocks serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake equally, whereas the other agents in this class fall somewhere between these two. PST 05104 Pharmacology & Therapeutics 254 NTA Level 5 Semester 1 Facilitator Guide Monoamine oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) Examples include :Selective to MAO-B: Selegiline, rasagiline, Selective to MAO-A: Moclobemide and Nonselective inhibitors: phenelzine and tranylcypromine o MAO degrades catecholamines, serotonin, and