Anticonvulsants are medications that prevent or lessen the likelihood that a
patient will experience convulsions, which are abnormal motor reactions such as
those found in epilepsy. Antipsychotics are drugs used to minimize symptoms
of psychosis. Psychosis is a disorder that is characterized by one of a number of
symptoms such as difficulty processing information and reaching a conclusion.
Antidepressants are medications used to treat depressions.
The next chapter continues our exploration of drugs that affect the central
nervous system by examining narcotic agonists. A narcotic agonist is a med-
ication that relieves pain—called an analgesic.Quiz
- Amphetamines
(a) inhibit the release of neurotransmitters.
(b) stimulate the release of neurotransmitters.
(c) lower the heart rate.
(d) None of the above. - Patients who experience migraines
(a) can be treated with a combination of migraine medications.
(b) should not be treated with a combination of migraine medications.
(c) should be treated with amphetamines.
(d) should be treated with Prozac. - Muscarinic receptors
(a) stimulate smooth muscles.
(b) stimulate skeletal muscles.
(c) increase the heart rate.
(d) All of the above. - Tricyclic medications are used to treat depression.
(a) True
(b) False - Anticholinergics drugs inhibit acetylcholine.
(a) True
(b) False
(^302) CHAPTER 15 Nervous System Drugs