Understanding Medical Drugs In Treating Mental Health Discussion

Read a selection of your colleagues’ posts.
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on 2 different days that were assigned the opposite of your claim. Support or expand on your argument to refute their claims. Work to share additional perspectives on the issue described by your colleague.

Responses

Hello,

Your approach in understanding medical drugs and their action in treating mental health conditions is impressive. It is true that clonazepam is classified as a benzodiazepine which can be used to control anxiety. According to Griffin et al. (2013), this is because the drug is a GABA-A receptor agonist that reduces the hyperpolarized neurotic action in the brain region, causing a calming effect to the patients. Having done my research on the drug, I agree with your notion that the use of Clonazepam has been prioritized in treatment of anxiety and any episodes of panic attack compared to other benzodiazepines due to being classified as safe with minimum side effects for usage in the management of anxiety.  However, the Mayo Clinic (2024) notes that its continued usage may cause sedation, fatigue, the lack of sleep, reduced sexual activity, and dependency among other adverse reactions to the drug.  In other instances, the patient may develop symptoms of depression, endangering their lives. Thus, the patient may require gradual increase from 0.25 milligram (mg) twice daily. However, the dosage should not be more than 4mg in adults (Mayo Clinic, 2024)Understanding Medical Drugs In Treating Mental Health Discussion . In cases where the patient presents mild symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks, using a high dosage for a long time has been associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. Therefore, the usage of clonazepam is discontinued once the patient manages their symptoms to curb the side effects associated that may lower the life quality of the patient during prescription. To ensure safety in usage, it is recommended that patients seek the physicians’ prescription who educate them on their condition and the usage of clonazepam drugs.

ORDER  HERE A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

 References

Griffin, C. E., Kaye, A. M., Bueno, F. R., & Kaye, A. D. (2013). Benzodiazepine pharmacology and central nervous system–mediated effects. PubMed Central (PMC), 13(2), 214-223. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3684331/

Mayo Clinic. (2024, April 3). Clonazepam (Oral route) proper use – Mayo Clinic. Top-ranked Hospital in the Nation – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/clonazepam-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20072102 Understanding Medical Drugs In Treating Mental Health Discussion

                                                            POST TWO

Hi,

It is true that Amphetamine and Methylphenidate are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Additionally, your approach in explaining the mechanism of action, and the advantages and disadvantages of using the drugs is excellent. Based on my research, I also found out that Amphetamine mode of action in managing ADHD is through the inhibition of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), which promotes concentration in the patients (Faraone et al., 2018). On the other hand, Methylphenidate inhibits the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine promoting the presence of neurotransmitters, which also causes an improvement in the focus and attention of the ADHD patients (Faraone et al., 2018). In instances where patients fail to respond to Amphetamine and Methylphenidate, the physician may recommend the use of Alpha-adrenergic agonists which stimulate the alpha2 adrenergic receptors, increasing attention and lowering impulsivity in the ADHD patients (Venables et al., 2012)Understanding Medical Drugs In Treating Mental Health Discussion .

Your exhibition on the advantages and disadvantages of administering Amphetamine and Methylphenidate drugs to ADHD patients is good. Based on Pires et al.’s (2023) study, it is true that while Amphetamines may be effective in managing ADHD symptoms, their usage may cause addiction, declined appetite and growth in children. Therefore, there has been a prohibition of the drugs usage with the drugs not being recommended for usage in children under the age of 5 years old. Similar to Amphetamine, the usage of Methylphenidate is associated with a decline in ADHD symptoms besides other adverse effects. According to Mayo Clinic (2024), Methylphenidate causes poor sleeping patterns, increases the risk to cardiovascular diseases and aggression. Lastly, while alpha-adrenergic agonists are available in different formulations, they have a longer half life and may cause fatigue, dizziness, constipation and dry mouth. Thus, administering the discussed drugs in managing ADHD requires health professionals to adhere to legal and ethical standards in operations that promote the general wellbeing of the patients. This may include seeking the informed consent of the patient by educating them about their condition, the drugs, and the associated side effects. Additionally, considering the social implications such as providing a solution to ensure that the patients have unlimited access to affordable medication to promote their wellbeing. Understanding Medical Drugs In Treating Mental Health Discussion

References

Faraone, S. V. (2018). The pharmacology of amphetamine and methylphenidate: Relevance to the neurobiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other psychiatric comorbidities. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 87, 255-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.02.001

Mayo Clinic. (2024, April 1). Methylphenidate (Oral route). https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/methylphenidate-oral-route/side-effects/drg

Pires, B., Rosendo, L. M., Brinca, A. T., Simão, A. Y., Barroso, M., Rosado, T., & Gallardo, E. (2023). The therapeutic potential of amphetamine-like Psychostimulants. Life, 13(11), 2180. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13112180

Venables, M., Ntzani, E., Hsia, Y., & Gillies, D. (2012). Alpha2 adrenergic agonists for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd010016 Understanding Medical Drugs In Treating Mental Health Discussion