Quiz : How Much You Know About Antidepressants

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) work by selectively blocking the reuptake of serotonin into the pre-synaptic cell. This means that they prevent the serotonin neurotransmitter from being taken back up into the neuron that released it, allowing it to remain in the synaptic cleft for a longer period of time. By doing so, SSRIs increase the concentration of serotonin in the brain, which can help improve mood and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The theory for the 2-3 week delay in effectiveness of SSRIs is that autoreceptors quickly become desensitized to newly increased levels of serotonin. This means that the receptors in the brain become less responsive to the increased serotonin levels, which takes time to readjust. During this time, the body synthesizes more serotonin to compensate for the desensitized receptors. This process typically takes 2-3 weeks, explaining the delayed effectiveness of SSRIs.

Reserpine inhibits the brain storage of noradrenaline and serotonin, which are two monoamine neurotransmitters implicated in depression. This provides evidence for the monoamine theory of depression, which suggests that a deficiency in these neurotransmitters can lead to depressive symptoms.

MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors) work by inhibiting the breakdown of noradrenaline and serotonin. This allows these neurotransmitters to remain in the synaptic cleft for a longer duration, leading to increased neurotransmission and potentially improving symptoms of depression or other mood disorders.

TCAs (Tricyclic antidepressants) work by competitively inhibiting the re-uptake of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft. This means that they block the re-uptake pumps responsible for removing neurotransmitters from the synapse, resulting in increased levels of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft. As a result, the neurotransmitters exert their effects for a longer duration, leading to an overall increase in neurotransmitter activity and improved mood.

L-Tryptophan is an amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is involved in regulating mood and sleep. St John's Wort is a herbal supplement that contains L-Tryptophan, making it the correct answer. Evening Primrose Oil does not contain L-Tryptophan, and L-Dopa is a precursor to dopamine, not serotonin.

The correct answer is reactive - response to circumstance; endogenous - biochemical disorder. This is because reactive depression is a type of depression that is triggered by external events or circumstances, such as the loss of a loved one or a major life change. On the other hand, endogenous depression refers to depression that is caused by internal factors, such as a biochemical imbalance in the brain.

Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when there is an excessive accumulation of serotonin in the body. It is considered a form of poisoning because it results from an overdose or interaction of medications that increase serotonin levels. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include tachycardia (rapid heart rate), shivering, seizures, and renal failure.

Lithium carbonate is administered to stabilize the manic phase in bipolar depression. Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating episodes of mania (elevated mood, increased energy) and depression. Lithium carbonate helps to reduce the intensity and frequency of manic episodes, preventing extreme mood swings and promoting stability in individuals with bipolar depression.

The sub-types of MAOIs are hydrazines, propargylamines, cyclopropylamines, and reversible inhibitors.

Dibenzazepines and dibenzocycloheptenes are the two sub-types of tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants are a class of medications commonly used to treat depression. These medications work by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which help improve mood and relieve symptoms of depression. Dibenzazepines and dibenzocycloheptenes are specific chemical structures that are found in different tricyclic antidepressant drugs.

The fact that the urinary excretion of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA is unchanged in depressed patients goes against the monoamine theory of depression. This theory suggests that depression is caused by a deficiency in monoamine neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. If this theory were true, one would expect to see decreased levels of serotonin metabolites in depressed patients. However, since the urinary excretion of 5-HIAA remains unchanged, it suggests that serotonin levels are not significantly affected in depression, contradicting the monoamine theory.

TCAs, or tricyclic antidepressants, are known to affect muscarinic, histaminic, and B-adrenoceptors. Muscarinic receptors are involved in various functions such as regulating heart rate, smooth muscle contraction, and glandular secretions. Histaminic receptors are involved in allergic responses, gastric acid secretion, and wakefulness. B-adrenoceptors are involved in regulating heart rate, blood pressure, and bronchial smooth muscle relaxation. Therefore, TCAs can potentially affect these neurotransmitter receptors, leading to a variety of effects on the body.

Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors are a class of medications that work by blocking the reuptake of noradrenaline in the brain, thereby increasing its availability. Atropine is a medication that blocks the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for various bodily functions. Atropine-like side effects refer to the potential side effects of noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors that are similar to those caused by atropine, such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and urinary retention. Therefore, the correct answer is Atropine-like side effects.

The correct answer explains that the cheese reaction is caused by the absorption of vasoactive amines from the diet, which cannot be broken down and therefore build up in the body. This buildup can lead to cerebral hemorrhage and death. This explanation suggests that consuming cheese or other foods high in vasoactive amines can have severe consequences on the body's ability to regulate blood flow and can result in life-threatening complications.