• Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition in which patients are unable to stop thinking certain thoughts and undertakingparticular actions.
Their repetitive behavior greatly interferes withthe patient’s normal lifestyle and the daily
life of their family.
•Both serotonin and an increase in the level ofglucose metabolism may play a role in this disorder.Cortical regions of the brain have been suggested to be involved in themediation of the
symptoms.
• Treatments include behavioral
therapies, anxiolytic drugs and antidepressant(such as the SSRIs,fluoxetine or fluvoxamine(.
• SSRIs increase serotonin
concentration at synapses, which may be responsiblefor diminishing repetitive behaviors.
- Prepared by: Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman (pharmacist).
- Resources: - Clinical physiology and pharmacology,Farideh Javid and Janice McCurrie 2008.
- Copyrights: All rights are reserved for pharmacist development group 2009 - 2011.
• Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which the function of the junction between motor nerves and skeletal muscle is affected.
• Myasthenia gravis occur when antibodies attack the acetylcholine receptors at the skeletal neuromuscular junction and therefore acetylcholine fails
to bind to them. The condition results in muscle weakness, particularly of the eye, lips, throat, tongue, neck and
shoulders.
• Movement will be limited when the
limb muscles are affected, making any repetitive action, for example in lifting, running, walking and climbing stairs,
difficult to sustain. Vision will also be affected.
• Drug treatments include the use of anticholinesterase agents (such as
neostigmine and
pyridostigmine) in conjunction with an antimuscarinic drug (such as atropine).
- Prepared by: Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman (pharmacist).
- Resources: - Clinical physiology and pharmacology,Farideh Javid and Janice McCurrie 2008.
- Copyrights: All rights are reserved for pharmacist development group 2009 - 2011.
• Anxiety disorder is a condition in
which a state of anxiety persists without any obvious reason.
• The symptoms usually result from overactivity in part of the autonomic nervoussystem or increased tension in skeletal
muscles.
• The neurotransmitters GABA and serotonin (5-HT) are mainly associated with
anxiety disorders. In addition the sympathetic component of responses is
mediated by noradrenaline.
• Somatic symptoms of anxiety are: sleep disturbance, palpitations (increased awareness of the heart
beat, or an irregular heart rhythm), tachycardia, dizziness, breathlessness, blurred vision, dry
mouth, difficulty in swallowing, flatulence, nausea, diarrhea and sweating.
• Treatment includes: non-pharmacological
therapies, such as psychological
approaches,
and pharmacological treatment, use of anxiolytic preparations, such as benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines, such as buspirone, and β-adrenoceptor antagonists such as propranolol.
- Prepared by: Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman (pharmacist).
- Resources: - Clinical physiology and pharmacology,Farideh Javid and Janice McCurrie 2008.
- Copyrights: All rights are reserved for pharmacist development group 2009 - 2011.
• Depression is characterized by negative, hopeless feelings and feelings ofunhappiness for no obvious reason. Patients
may feel worthless; mood,sleep and energy levels are affected. Depression disturbs many aspects
ofour daily
life.
• The depletionofnoradrenaline and serotonin stores in the body is believed to
be the underlying pathophysiological explanation.
• Counseling and/or Drug therapy are effective treatments for most
patients.Antidepressant
drugs are three categories: tricyclic
antidepressants,MAOIs and SSRIs.
• The onset of therapeuticresponses to antidepressants
delay one- to two-week,possibly because of the time taken to override feedbackmechanisms at nerve endings.
- Prepared by: Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman (pharmacist).
- Resources: - Clinical physiology and pharmacology,Farideh Javid and Janice McCurrie 2008.
- Copyrights: All rights are reserved for pharmacist development group 2009 - 2011.
