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Title

Pharmacology, Part 2: Anticonvulsant and Psychotropic Medications (1 credit hours)

Abstract

This is a new Pharmacology, Part 2 course and has been assigned a new CE approval number.

This new course examines the actions and effects of drug classes used to manage disorders of the central nervous system. Lesson 1 provides an overview of the central nervous system and drugs used in the management of Parkinson’s Disease. Lesson 2 describes the general mechanism of action and side-effects of drugs used to control seizure disorders. Lesson 3 addresses drugs having sedative and anxiolytic properties useful for managing insomnia and acute anxiety. Lesson 4 explains the actions and effects of antidepressant drugs, and the rationale for their use in both depression and chronic anxiety disorders. Finally, Lesson 5 addresses drugs used to manage psychoses and manic disorders. Course Approval/Expiration Date: July 1, 2011 Category A Credit

This activity may be available in multiple formats or from different sponsors. The ARRT does not allow CE activities such as internet courses, home study programs or directed readings to be repeated for CE credit in the same or any subsequent biennium.

Author

Dan Becker, DDS

Dr. Becker received his bachelor of science in zoology from Ohio University in 1968 and his doctor of dental surgery from Ohio State University in 1972. Although Dr. Becker is a dentist, his interest always centered on academia and he began teaching biology at Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH) as a part-time instructor in the autumn of 1972. He accepted a full-time faculty position in the Dental Hygiene department in 1976, but continued his teaching within the Biology department as well.

Dr. Becker's interest in pharmacology and anesthesia attracted him to Miami Valley Hospital where he became involved with their dental residency instructing dental residents and learning from mentors during rotations within departments of anesthesia and emergency medicine. During this time, he developed and taught courses in pharmacology and pathophysiology for nursing and other allied health programs until his teaching at Sinclair became entirely devoted to these subject areas. Currently he is a full professor at Sinclair Community College and Associate Director of Education at Miami Valley Hospital. He has published in numerous scientific journals and textbooks, and lectures extensively throughout the United States and Canada.

Objectives

Upon completion of the module the learner will be able to:

Explain the general mechanism of action and side effects for drugs used to manage Parkinson’s disease.
Describe the general mechanism of action and side effects for anticonvulsants, and state the agents used most often to control absence and grand mal seizures.
State the prototype, action and side effects for the three principal drug classes used to manage insomnia and acute anxiety.
State the prototype, action and most significant side effects and/or drug interactions for the 4 principle classes of antidepressants.
State the prototype, action and most significant side effects of antipsychotic drugs.
Describe the action and effects of lithium, and offer two additional drug classes that can be used to manage manic disorders .

Resources

Bibliography
Abramowicz M, ed. Drugs for Parkinson's disease. In: Treatment Guidelines from the Medical Letter. 2004;1(22): 41-46.

Abramowicz M, ed. Drugs for epilepsy. In: Treatment Guidelines from the Medical Letter. 2003;1(9): 57-64.

Abramowicz M, ed. Drugs for Psychiatric Disorders. In: Treatment Guidelines from the Medical Letter. July 2003.

Abramowicz M, ed. Drugs for depression and anxiety. In: The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics. 2001;43:73-83.

Baldessarini RJ. Drug therapy of depression and anxiety disorders. Brunton LL, Lazo JS, Parker KL. Eds. Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 11th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2006.

Bloom FE. Neurotransmission and the Central Nervous System. In: Brunton LL, Lazo JS, Parker KL. Eds. Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 11th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

Brodie MJ, Dichter MA. Antiepileptic drugs. N Engl J Med 1996;334(3):168-175.

Brodie MJ, French JA. Management of epilepsy in adolescents and adults. Lancet. 2000;356:323-29.

Nutt JG, Wooten GF. Diagnosis and initial management of Parkinson’s disease. N Engl J Med 2005;353(10):1021-7.

Olin BR, Hebel SK, Dombek CE eds. Drug Facts and Comparisons. 2006 ed. St Louis, Mo: Facts and Comparisons, Inc; 2006.

Webliography
General Info
Gray H, bartleby.com. IX. Neurology. 1. Structure of the Nervous System. Gray, Henry. 1918. Anatomy of the Human Body. 2005. Available at: http://www.bartleby.com/107/183.html. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

Anticonvulsants
Epilepsy Foundation of America. Epilepsy Foundation -- Not Another Moment Lost to Seizures (Home Page). Available at: http://www.efa.org/. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

Epilepsy Toronto. Learning about Epilepsy Course Index. Available at: http://www.epilepsytoronto.org/courseindex.html. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

Sedatives and Anxiolytics
Boudinot S. Phenobarbitol Drug Development -- 1. History. Available at: http://chemcases.com/pheno/pheno01.htm. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

Epilepsy-International. Barbituates And Epilepsy. Available at: http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/barb03.htm. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

Psychotropic Drugs
Long PW, Internet Mental Health. Major Depressive Disorder. 1995-2005. Available at: http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-md01.html. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

National Institute of Mental Health. NIMH: Bipolar Disorder. Jan 24, 2007. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

National Institute of Mental Health. NIMH: History of Childhood Abuse or Neglect Increases Risk of Major Depression. Jan 4, 2007. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/abuse-depression.cfm. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

Schizophrenia.com. Paranoid Schizophrenia.com -- An Introduction to Schizophrenia. 1996-2004.http://www.schizophrenia.com/ami/index.html. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

Schizophrenia.com. Schizophrenia.com, Indepth Schizophrenia News, Information and Support (Home Page). 1996-2006. http://www.schizophrenia.com/ami/index.html. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

Schizophrenia.com. Schizophrenia Medications. 1996-2004. Available at: http://www.schizophrenia.com/meds.html. Accessed Mar 2, 2007.

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