Main Components of Drug Therapy

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  • Drug Therapy: Main Components
    • Changing the amount of neurotransmitters at the synapse.
    • Anti-Depressants
      • Depression is thought to be due to insufficient amount of serotonin being produced at the synapse.
      • Anti-depressants work by either reducing the rate of re-absorption or by blocking the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitters.
      • SSRIs work by stopping nerve cells from reabsorbing the serotonin, increasing the amount of serotonin available.
    • Anti-Psychotics
      • Conventional anti-psychotics are used primarily to combat the positive symptoms of schizophrenia
      • These drugs block the action of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain by binding to its receptors.
      • The atypical anti-psychotics drugs act by only temporarily occupying dopamine receptors and then rapidly dissociating to allow normal dopamine transmission.
        • Giving anti-psychotics lower levels of side effects compared to conventional anti-psychotics.
    • Anti- Anxiety
      • BZs slow down the activity of the central nervous system.
        • They do this by enhancing the activity of GABA, a neurotransmitter that is the body's natural form of anxiety relief.
      • BBs bind to receptors of the cells of the heart and other parts of the body that are usually stimulated sympathetic arousal.
      • The results is a fall in blood pressure, and therefore less stress on the heart. The person then feels calmer and less anxious.

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