Common NCLEX Psychiatric Medications Flashcards
Alprazolam Drug Class
Benzodiazepine
Alprazolam Labeled Uses
- Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Panic Disorder (with or without agoraphobia)
- Management of anxiety associated with depression
Alprazolam Therapeutic Action
Increases the effects of GABA
Alprazolam Pregnancy Drug Category
Category D
Alprazolam Contraindications
- Allergy/hypersensitivity
- Psychosis
- Shock/Coma
- Acute narrow-angle glaucoma
- Renal or hepatic dysfunction
- Alcohol intoxication
- Pregnancy and lactation
Birth Defects that alprazolam can cause
- Cleft lip/palate
- Inguinal hernia
- Cardiac defects
- Microcephaly
- Pyloric stenosis
Alprazolam Side Effects
- Sedation
- Blurred vision and dizziness
- Drowsiness and lethargy
- Dry mouth, N/V
- Amnesia and confusion
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Agranulocytosis
- Drug dependence with withdrawal syndrome
- Loss of libido and changes in sexual function
Agranulocytosis
- An acute reaction to medications that causes the WBC count to drop to very low levels (WBC < 200 cells/mm) with concurrent neutropenia
- Usually diagnosed by sore throat, fever, and mouth ulcerations and sores, and low WBCs
Alprazolam Patient Education
- Avoid drinking grapefruit juice during therapy.
- Avoid the use of alcohol or other CNS depressants
- Effects of alprazolam will increase if taken with cimetidine, oral contraception, or disulfiram.
- Effects of alprazolam will decrease if taken with: theophylline or ranitidine
- Advise patient to not share medication with anyone.
Cultural Differences in Metabolism of Alprazolam: Asian Populations
- Concentration and ½ life of Xanax are 15-25% higher in Asian
- Metabolize drugs in the CYP450 system a lot slower than other ethnic groups.
- Prescribe lower dose (Ex: 0.25 mg PO TID)
Cultural Differences in Metabolism of Alprazolam: African Americans
- 15-20% genetically predisposed to delayed metabolism of benzodiazepines
- Results in high serum levels of drug, increased sedation, and increase in adverse effects
Cultural Differences in Metabolism of Alprazolam: Elderly
- Polypharmacy (drug interactions)
- Slow metabolism due to aging process
Buspirone Drug Class
Antianxiety
Buspirone FDA Approved for
Anxiety Disorders
Buspirone Therapeutic Action
Unknown
Buspirone Pregnancy Category
Category C
Nursing Considerations for Buspirone
- No sedative or muscle relaxing properties
- Is not used for acute anxiety attacks
- Buspirone has a slow onset: It can take 2-3 weeks to reach max effectiveness.
- Not to be used PRN for anxiety
- Needs to be taken daily!!
Fluoxetine Drug Class
SSRI (antidepressant)
Fluoxetine FDA Approved for
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar (depression)
- OCD
- PMDD
- Bulimia
Fluoxetine Therapeutic Action
Inhibits CNS uptake of serotonin
Fluoxetine Pregnancy Class
Category C
Fluoxetine Unlabeled Uses
- Alcoholism
- Borderline personality disorder
- Fibromyalgia
- Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)
- PTSD
- Migraine prevention
Fluoxetine Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity/allergy
- MAOI usage
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Impaired hepatic or renal function
- Diabetes mellitus
- Seizures
- History of suicide attempts
Fluoxetine Side Effects
- Seizures
- Anxiety
- Drowsiness
- HA
- Insomnia
- Impotence
- Weight loss
- Excessive sweating
- Hot flashes
- Pruritis
Fluoxetine Patient Education
- Report thoughts of suicide!!
- May take up to 4-6 weeks for drugs full effect.
- Do Not stop taking abruptly (must be tapered)
- Do Not use with St. John’s Wort!!
- Inform HCP if pregnancy is planned or suspected
- Caution patient to wear protective clothing and use sunscreen to prevent photosensitivity reactions
- Inform patient that medication may cause decreased libido.
Imipramine Drug Class
Tricyclic (antidepressant)
Imipramine FDA Approved for
Depression and enuresis in children
Imipramine Therapeutic Action
Inhibits the presynaptic reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin
Imipramine Pregnancy Class
Category C
Imipramine Contraindications
- May increase risk of suicide attempt/ideation especially during dose early treatment or dose adjustment; risk may be greater in children or adolescents.
- Seizure disorders (lowers the seizure threshold)
- Schizophrenic or Paranoid patients may exhibit worsening psychosis
- Aspirin or tartrazine allergy