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Modern psychopharmacology is largely the story of chemical neurotransmission.

Modern psychopharmacology is largely the story of chemical neurotransmission. One must be fluent in the language and principles of chemical neurotransmission to:

Understand the actions of drugs on the brain.
Grasp the impact of diseases upon the central nervous system.
Interpret the behavioral consequences of psychiatric medicines.
After studying Module 2: Lecture Materials & Resources, discuss the following:

Choose an FDA-approved medication currently used in psychiatry.
Explain the concept of that drug’s half-life.
How long would it take for that drug to reach a steady state?
How frequently should the medication be dosed based on the half-life?

Sample Answer

Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Understanding Half-Life

Chosen Medication: Fluoxetine (Brand Name: Prozac) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Half-Life Explained:

The half-life of a drug refers to the time it takes for the amount of the drug in the body to decrease by half. For fluoxetine, the half-life is approximately 48-72 hours (1-3 days).

Full Answer Section

Reaching Steady State:

It takes several half-lives for a medication to reach a steady state in the bloodstream. This means the amount of drug entering the body through each dose is balanced by the amount being eliminated. For fluoxetine, with a half-life of 1-3 days, it can take 4-9 days to reach a steady state concentration.

Dosing Frequency:

Fluoxetine’s long half-life allows for once-daily dosing. Because it takes several days to reach steady state, it may take a few weeks before the full therapeutic effects of the medication are noticeable.

Additional Points:

Individual factors like metabolism and liver function can influence fluoxetine’s half-life.
Some patients may require adjustments in dosage based on their response and potential side effects.

By understanding the concept of half-life, we can predict how long it takes for a medication to reach therapeutic levels and how often it should be dosed for optimal effect.

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Modern psychopharmacology is largely the story of chemical neurotransmission.

Sample Answer

Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Understanding Half-Life

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