Antidepressants
This is the most important teaching point for a client starting an antidepressant medication.
What is that the medication may take several weeks to become effective and should be taken consistently?
This benzodiazepine is commonly used for acute anxiety and panic attacks.
What is Alprazolam (Xanax)?
This classic mood stabilizer requires regular blood level monitoring to prevent toxicity.
What is Lithium?
Clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic, requires routine monitoring of this lab value to check for agranulocytosis.
What is WBC (White Blood Cell count)?
This popular non-benzodiazepine is used to treat insomnia but may cause sleepwalking or amnesia.
What is Zolpidem (Ambien)?
This stimulant medication is commonly prescribed for ADHD and has a high risk of abuse.
What is Methylphenidate (Ritalin)?
This medication is used to treat Parkinson’s disease and works by increasing dopamine in the brain.
What is Levodopa-Carbidopa (Sinemet)?
This class of antidepressants is considered first-line treatment for depression and anxiety due to fewer side effects.
What are SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)?
This class of antianxiety medications works quickly and is commonly used for acute panic attacks, but carries a risk for dependence.
What are benzodiazepines?
This is the priority nursing teaching for a client newly prescribed a mood stabilizer.
What is the importance of medication adherence and routine lab monitoring?
This antipsychotic is associated with a high risk for extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).
What is haloperidol (Haldol)?
This sedative-hypnotic medication is also an antidepressant frequently used to promote sleep in psychiatric settings.
What is trazodone (Desyrel)?
These neurotransmitters are increased by stimulant medications to improve focus and attention.
What are dopamine and norepinephrine?
This anticholinergic medication is frequently prescribed to manage EPS such as dystonia and parkinsonism.
What is benztropine (Cogentin)?
This type of antidepressant requires avoiding tyramine-rich foods to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
What are MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)?
This non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic does not cause dependence and is often used for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
What is Buspirone (Buspar)?
This anticonvulsant mood stabilizer has a serious risk of causing Stevens-Johnson syndrome and requires monitoring for rash.
What is Lamotrigine (Lamictal)?
This serious side effect of long-term antipsychotic use causes involuntary movements of the face, tongue, and extremities.
What is Tardive Dyskinesia?
This melatonin receptor agonist is used for insomnia and does not cause dependence like benzodiazepines.
What is Ramelteon (Rozerem)?
This non-stimulant ADHD medication works by increasing norepinephrine levels.
What is Atomoxetine (Strattera)?
This medication is combined with Levodopa to prevent its breakdown before reaching the brain, making treatment for Parkinson’s disease more effective.
What is Carbidopa?
This antidepressant class is dangerous in overdose due to cardiac toxicity and anticholinergic effects
What are tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)?
This medication may be prescribed for performance anxiety to reduce physical symptoms such as tachycardia and tremors.
What is propranolol (Inderal)?
This mood stabilizer is contraindicated in pregnancy due to risk of neural tube defects and requires monitoring of liver function.
What is valproic acid or divalproex (Depakote)?
This is the priority nursing intervention when a client develops acute dystonia after receiving an antipsychotic.
What is administering benztropine (Cogentin) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl)?
This is the priority nursing teaching for a client taking sedative-hypnotic medications.
What is to avoid alcohol and other CNS depressants?
This is a common adverse effect the nurse should monitor in children taking stimulant medications.
What is decreased appetite or weight loss?
This antihistamine with anticholinergic properties may be administered for acute dystonic reactions caused by antipsychotics.
What is diphenhydramine (Benadryl)?
This atypical antidepressant is commonly used for smoking cessation and does not cause sexual dysfunction like SSRIs.
What is Bupropion (Wellbutrin)?
Benzodiazepine overdose can be reversed using this antidote.
What is Flumazenil?
This anticonvulsant mood stabilizer is commonly used for bipolar disorder but requires liver function tests (LFTs) due to the risk of hepatotoxicity.
What is Valproate (Depakote)?
This life-threatening side effect of antipsychotics includes fever, muscle rigidity, and autonomic instability.
What is Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)?
This barbiturate was once commonly used for anxiety but is now rarely prescribed due to overdose risk.
What is Phenobarbital?
This non-stimulant medication may be prescribed for ADHD when stimulants are not tolerated or are contraindicated.
What is atomoxetine (Strattera)?
This medication is often given to counteract extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) from antipsychotics.
What is Benztropine (Cogentin)?