Antidepressants
These neurotransmitters can be increased when taking an antidepressant.
What are norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.(Review Halter, p. 52, p. 258)
This medication has a low therapeutic index and requires initial and ongoing blood serum lab draws to check for therapeutic and toxic levels.
What is Lithium
(Review Halter, p.55, p. 233-235, p. 234-table 13.4)
Weight gain and metabolic syndrome are commonly seen in these antipsychotics.
What are second generation or atypical antipsychotics
(Review Halter, p.216 and table 12.6)
These drug classes are considered first line of treatment in anxiety disorders
What are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs).
(Review Halter, p. 287, 289, and table 15.11)
There is an increased risk for agranulocytosis when taking this medication.
What is clozapine (Clozaril)
(Review Halter, p.58, pp.214-217)
A side effect to watch for with antidepressants
What is suicidal ideation.
(Review Halter, 257, p. 261 box 14.4)
In addition to treating bipolar disorder, valproate, lamotrigine, and carbamazepine are also in this drug class.
What are anticonvulsant drugs.
(Review Halter, 55-56, p.235, p.236-table 13.5)
Antipsychotic medications are used for the treatment of these disorders.
What is autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorders, and impulse control disorders.
(Review Halter, pp. 183, 210-217, 235-236, 396)
This class of antianxiety medication can cause dependency.
What are benzodiazepines.
(Review Halter, p.49, 288, 289)
Tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, akathisia, and pseudoparkinsonism
What are extrapyramidal symptoms/extrapyramidal side effects (EPS)
(Review Halter, p. 211-215)
Tricyclic antidepressants commonly cause these side effects.
What are drowsiness, low blood pressure, dry mouth, urinary retention, cardiac toxicity, constipation, blurred vision
(Review Halter, p. 260-261)
This category of medication has mood stabilizing properties for both mania and depression
What are second generation antipsychotics
(Review Halter, p;235-236, p. 236-table 13.5)
Antipsychotic medications that treat delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized or bizarre thoughts, behavior, and/or speech are classified as this symptom group.
What are positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
(Review Halter, p. 52-53, 197-199)
These drugs are used "off label" to treat anxiety through the blocking or stimulating of adrenergic receptor activity.
What are propranolol (Inderal) and clonidine (Catapres) (norandrenergic drugs).
(Review Halter, p.288-289)
A rare but life-threatening condition associated with medications that affect the body's level of serotonin
What is serotonin syndrome.
(Review Halter, p.259, p.260, box 14.3, box 14.4)
A client must avoid foods that are high in tyramine when taking a medication from this drug class.
What are Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs).
(Review, p.54, 55, 262, 263)
A patient with a lithium level greater than 2.0 mEq/L may show these signs of toxicity.
What is blurred vision, ataxia, clonic movements, increased urination, tremor, hypotension, mental confusion
(Review Halter, p.234 and table 13.4)
Because of a higher side effect profile, nurses must consider this when administering and managing a patient taking antipsychotics
What is the possibility of non-adherence.
(Review Halter, p. 202-box 12.2, p.205 table 12.3)
Benzodiazepines are often used to manage withdrawal symptoms from this substance
What is alcohol.
(Review Halter, p.49, p. 424-425, table 22.6)
Syndrome associated with severe muscle rigidity, hypertension, tachycardia, diaphoresis, delirium and hyperpyrexia
What is neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
Review Halter p. 216 table 12.6, p. 217)
Rapid discontinuation of antidepressants can cause these symptoms.
What is discontinuation syndrome: (dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, irritability, nausea, agitation, suicidal ideations)
(Review Halter, p. 259 table 14.6, p.261 box 14.5)
Common reasons for nonadherence of prescribed mood stabilizers.
What is weight gain, altered metabolism of lipids, altered metabolism of glucose.
(Review Halter, p. 237)
These negative symptoms are treated with second generation (atypical) antipsychotics.
What are anhedonia, avolition, asociality, affective blunting, apathy, and alogia (the six "A" symptoms).
Review Halter p. 199-200, 215-217
Antidepressants are a first line treatment for anxiety symptoms for this reason.
What is depression and anxiety are often co-morbid disorders.
(Review Halter, p.246, p. 287)
Tongue protrusion, lip smacking, choreiform movements, chewing are symptoms of this side effect, seen at times in patients taking antipsychotics.
What is tardive dyskinesia.
(Review Halter, p. 211-213, p. 215, table 12.6)