Advanced Pharmacology Essay Discussion

Advanced Pharmacology Essay Discussion

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Related to Anxiolytic Medications

Pharmacokinetics refers to a series of activities the body does to a drug since its administration. It entails absorption into body tissues, drug distribution to various targeted body compartments, metabolism, which occurs primarily in the liver, and excretion. Studying a drug’s physiologic, biochemical, and molecular actions or effects constitutes its respective pharmacodynamics (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021)Advanced Pharmacology Essay Discussion. Anxiolytics constitute a class of medications used to treat a range of anxiety disorders, primarily in managing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Generalized anxiety disorder is associated with significant distress and excessive worry, with subsequent impairment in individual functionality.

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Anxiolytics’ mechanism of action entails increasing the dopamine and serotonin concentration in the brain (Stubbs et al., 2017). The aging process is associated with a significant decrease in excretion and metabolism of anxiolytics. These changes call for dosage modification as well as close patient monitoring. Drug toxicity may develop over time owing to the increase of chronically used medications for five to six half-lives prior to achieving a steady state. For instance, most benzodiazepines such as chlordiazepoxide and flurazepam have up to 90 hours of half-lives in elderly patients (Ng et al., 2018)Advanced Pharmacology Essay Discussion. As such, their associated signs of toxicity may not manifest until a few days have elapsed following initiation of therapy.

Anxiolytics’ mechanism of action entails increasing the norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin concentration in the brain, the primary neurotransmitters involved in mood stabilization. Following administration of a single dose of an anxiolytic drug, its time course plasma levels follows the three phases of absorption, the distribution phase into peripheral tissues, and elimination from the body compartments (Stubbs et al., 2017). The anxiolytic drugs are thus primarily administered intravenously, orally, and intramuscularly. The current form of lorazepam suits necessitates its sublingual administration.

Compare and Contrast Different Treatment Options

A wide range of medications could be utilized in the management of GAD. Antidepressants such as paroxetine and duloxetine comprise the first-line medications in managing this disorder (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). Buspirone constitutes a major anti-anxiety medication whose mechanism of action entails stimulating dopamine and serotonin receptors, hence changing the chemical messages in these nerve receptors (Baldwin et al., 2017)Advanced Pharmacology Essay Discussion.

Imipramine and escitalopram are other treatment options that have marked improvement in psychotic patients with GAD. Both drugs have been shown to effectively reduce anxiety and improve symptoms, but there are some important differences between them. Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant, whereas escitalopram is an SSRI also effective in treating GAD. Besides, imipramine is less likely to cause sexual side effects and weight gain than escitalopram. Citalopram, an SSRI, is another common treatment for GAD. Baldwin et al. (2017) posit that the drug works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which can help improve mood and reduce anxiety. While citalopram is generally well-tolerated, some side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, and fatigue.

Moreover, benzodiazepines may be indicated in the management of GAD, whereby they potentiate the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain. These medications have varying mechanisms of action, but all end in mood stabilization. These anxiolytic drugs have a relatively similar effect on the brain by potentiating serotonin or inhibiting its uptake, hence realizing a sedative effect (Wise et al., 2020)Advanced Pharmacology Essay Discussion. Psychotherapy, often known as psychological or talk therapy, entails working with a psychotherapist to minimize the patient’s distress and depressive manifestations (Masataka, 2019). Cognitive behavioral therapy is a promising non-pharmacological treatment approach for this psychotic disorder.

References

Baldwin, D. S., Hou, R., Gordon, R., Huneke, N. T., & Garner, M. (2017). Pharmacotherapy in generalized anxiety disorder: novel experimental medicine models and emerging drug targets. Cns Drugs, 31(4), 307-317.

Masataka, N. (2019). Anxiolytic effects of repeated cannabidiol treatment in teenagers with social anxiety disorders. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2466.

Ng, B. J., Le Couteur, D. G., & Hilmer, S. N. (2018). Deprescribing benzodiazepines in older patients: impact of interventions targeting physicians, pharmacists, and patients. Drugs & Aging, 35(6), 493-521.

Rosenthal, L. D., & Burchum, J. R. (2021). Lehne’s pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (2nd ed.) St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

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Stubbs, B., Vancampfort, D., Rosenbaum, S., Firth, J., Cosco, T., Veronese, N., … & Schuch, F. B. (2017). An examination of the anxiolytic effects of exercise for people with anxiety and stress-related disorders: a meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 249, 102-108.

Wise, T., Patrick, F., Meyer, N., Mazibuko, N., Oates, A. E., van der Bijl, A. H., … & Young, A. H. (2020). Cholinergic modulation of disorder-relevant neural circuits in generalized anxiety disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 87(10), 908-915. Advanced Pharmacology Essay Discussion