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Clinical Psychopharmacology, every concept, explained

Every Clinical Psychopharmacology concept for MRCPsych Prep, explained: clear mental models, how it shows in a question, and the look-alikes that trip people up.

  • Lamotrigine, pregabalin, acamprosate, amantadine and riluzole: drugs that calm nerve excitation
  • Antidepressant reuptake pumps: clomipramine, desipramine, SNRIs, bupropion, trazodone and more
  • Antidepressant receptor actions: mirtazapine, agomelatine, vortioxetine, doxepin, trazodone and more
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, sildenafil and the tyramine reaction
  • Stimulant transporter actions of cocaine, methylphenidate, MDMA, amphetamine, atomoxetine and modafinil
  • Antipsychotic receptor profiles: sulpiride, amisulpride, lurasidone, olanzapine, clozapine and more
  • Serotonin receptor subtypes: 5-HT3, 5-HT2C, 5-HT2A, 5-HT7 and more
  • Alpha-1 blockade, orthostatic hypotension, safer drug choice and priapism
  • Propranolol, clonidine, lofexidine and guanfacine
  • Methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone at the mu-opioid receptor
  • Recreational drug targets: THC, caffeine, psilocybin, LSD, cocaine and more
  • Drug intoxication signs, septal perforation, pinpoint pupils, LSD afterimages and more
  • Anti-dementia drug mechanisms, donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine
  • Drug licences and trial evidence: pregabalin, duloxetine, olanzapine, naltrexone and more
  • Antidepressant side effects: vortioxetine, agomelatine, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, bupropion and more
  • Antipsychotic movement side effects: acute dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia
  • Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, serotonin syndrome and anticholinergic syndrome
  • QT risk with antidepressants: citalopram, mirtazapine, sertraline, dosulepin and more
  • Clozapine seizures, constipation and agranulocytosis: dose reduction, senna and more
  • Lithium organ effects: nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, heart block and more
  • Antiepileptic side effects: topiramate, levetiracetam, vigabatrin, carbamazepine and valproate
  • Blood count and liver test monitoring: mirtazapine, mianserin, carbamazepine, tacrine, nefazodone and more
  • Valproate and other mood drugs in pregnancy: malformation, developmental delay, autism and more
  • Ebstein's anomaly, cleft lip/palate, newborn pulmonary hypertension and fingernail hypoplasia in pregnancy
  • First-order and zero-order elimination, and fluoxetine capacity-limited kinetics
  • Plasma protein binding, displacement, volume of distribution and lipophilicity
  • Drug handling in pregnancy and old age: renal clearance, volume of distribution, clozapine and more
  • Drug half-lives: aripiprazole, quetiapine, fluoxetine, temazepam, depot injections and more
  • Enzyme induction: smoking, carbamazepine, St John's Wort and more
  • Drug selection for raised BMI, hyponatraemia, sick sinus syndrome, pregnancy and more
  • Striatal D2 occupancy, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia and fast dissociation
  • Drug-induced sleep problems: restless legs, sleep paralysis, nocturnal myoclonus, insomnia and more
  • Antipsychotic metabolic risk: clozapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone, aripiprazole and pregabalin
  • QTc prolongation: risk factors, female limit and the 500 ms threshold
  • Antipsychotic QTc prolongation: thioridazine, ziprasidone, pimozide, droperidol, lurasidone and aripiprazole
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome, photosensitivity, blue-grey skin and retinal pigmentation
  • Antipsychotic chemical classes, butyrophenones, phenothiazines, benzamides and dibenzo families
  • Antidepressant-induced hyponatraemia: SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics, mirtazapine, body weight, diuretics and more
  • Clozapine safety: agranulocytosis, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy and venous thromboembolism
  • Neurochemical changes after ECT: beta-adrenergic receptors, 5-HT2 receptors, acetylcholine, BDNF and more
  • Area under the curve, bioavailability, clearance, volume of distribution and more
  • Drug absorption, food effects, gut transit, inhaled nicotine and depot preparations
  • Liver enzyme drug interactions: lamotrigine with valproate or the pill, paroxetine, reboxetine, grapefruit and more
  • Drug clearance in kidney and liver failure: memantine, amisulpride, LOT benzodiazepines and more
  • Therapeutic drug monitoring: narrow index, target range, level-effect link and variability
  • Lithium interactions with ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs, thiazides, loop diuretics and theophylline
  • Disulfiram reaction: alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, metronidazole and hidden alcohol
  • Depot antipsychotic kinetics: time to peak, apparent half-life, accumulation, steady state and oral cover
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