Drugs Affecting Mental Health Flashcards
All drugs manipulating neurotransitters in some way to treat disorder
Chemical messengers of NS
neurotransitters Exert actions through receptors in postsynaptic membrane; goals: increases/decrease neurotransitters in cleft; altering levels neurotransitters lot AE
Interaction of transmitter/receptor results in specific physiologic response
Rapid removal of transmitter needed to maintain precise control of neural transmission - body good at it
All drugs used treat mental disorders - not abruptly d/c - taper off
Receptors named for type of neurotransmitter with which they interact
Basic concepts neurophysiology: communication neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, neurotrophic or nerve growth factors
Chemical messengers of NS
Enables muscle action, learning and memory
Acetylcholine
Influences movement, learning, attention and emotion
Dopamine
Affects mood, hunger, sleep, arousal
Serotonin
Helps control alertness and arousal
Norepinephrine
A major inhibitory NT
Gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Major excitatory NT; involved in memory
Glutamate
Pharmacological treatment for mental health and neuro disorders (discussed in this class) modulate neurotransmitters
Result in inhibition or excitation of the CNS
Adverse effects are often primary (related to action of medication; too much medication)
Medications discussed should not be discontinued abruptly if taken scheduled - tapered off - really sick if just d/c med; high risk for seizures if for seizures
Mental health and neuro pharmacology
Break cycle anxiety and restore functining
Unpleasant reaction to stimulus
Feelings of:
Treatment goal:
Clinical manifestations (SNS):
Mild anxiety:
Overwhelming or severe:
Anxiety
Actual or unknown
Unpleasant reaction to stimulus - Anxiety
Tension
Nervousness
Apprehension
Fear
Feelings of: - Anxiety
Break feelings
Restore functioning
Treatment goal: - Anxiety
Sweating
Tachycardia
Rapid breathing
Elevated BP
Clinical manifestations (SNS): - Anxiety
Helpful in certain situations
Mild anxiety: - Anxiety
Concerning
Interfere with functioning
Overwhelming or severe: - Anxiety
Depress activity of CNS through GABA receptors (inhibitory neurotransmitter) - slow down to decrease anxiety)
MoA: - Gen: benzodiazepines
Pregnancy (X - cross barrier)/lactation - AE happen in mom and baby; COPD (get problematic - decrease resp drive CO2 retainers not lot reserve be cautious when admin meds that cause resp depression); older adults
Contraindications: - Gen: benzodiazepines
Schedule IV (lower risk for dependence and abuse, careful with admin and doc since is scheduled drug); CNS depressants: alcohol, opioids (higher risk for CNS and resp depression), others
Black Box Warning: - Gen: benzodiazepines
CNS depression - slow down activity brain to break manifestations of anxiety - reacts certain way/too much med can have this, major one monitor for; Overdose: respiratory depression, coma - slow down CNS slow down resp sys so imp monitor for this
AE: - Gen: benzodiazepines
Caution with IV route: higher risk for AE; Long term use must taper discontinuation (withdrawal syndrome); some addictive properties but lower than seen with opioids
Nursing: - Gen: benzodiazepines
anxiety disorders, acute agitation, acute alcohol withdrawal, pre-operative sedation
Use: - Benzodiazepines: Prototype: lorazepam (Ativan)
oral or IVP (rate 2 mg/min)
Route: - Benzodiazepines: Prototype: lorazepam (Ativan)
drowsiness, dizziness, lethargy, fatigue, hypotension; overdose: respiratory depression (more common when taken with other CNS depressants)
AE: - Benzodiazepines: Prototype: lorazepam (Ativan)
Fall risk - anytime CNS depressant high fall risk - drowsy easier and fall easier
Nursing: - Benzodiazepines: Prototype: lorazepam (Ativan)
Assessment
Interventions
Evaluation
Nursing care plan: benzodiazepines
Focus on neuro and respiratory (major AE) - adequate baseline imp; VS
Assessment
Give parenteral only if oral forms are not feasible/available - try oral if can
Taper dose after long term therapy
Fall risk
Teach client: drug name, dose, AE, non-pharm therapy for anxiety, can make them drowsy - avoid operating heavy machinery until know how react to med
Interventions
Therapeutic response, AE, teaching, compliance
Evaluation
Benzodiazepines would not be beneficial in which situation?
A.A client with extreme fear
B.A client with moderate anxiety
C.A client who is a truck driver
D.A client who is experiencing stress
Answer: C
Rationale: Benzodiazepines can cause drowsiness which is problematic for a truck driver. Benzodiazepines are indicated to treat fear, anxiety and stress.
The nurse is caring for a client prescribed lorazepam. When reviewing the client’s medication list, what other medication causes the most concern for the nurse?
A.Oxycodone/Morphine
B.Lisinopril
C.Ondansetron
D.Metoprolol
Answer: A
Sedation and resp depression - ondansetron causes sedation; benzo can lower BP - concerning with antihypertensives but more concerned with sedation and resp depression
Rationale: Opioids are the most concerning due to their ability to also cause sedation and respiratory depression. There is a black box warning regarding the drug-drug interaction between benzodiazepines and opioids. Although antihypertensives like lisinopril and metoprolol could increase the risk for hypotension, this is less concerning than respiratory depression. Ondansetron could increase the risk for drowsiness and hypotension, but most patients are taking it on a PRN basis and the risks to the client are lower than that of opioids.
Imbalance of neurotransmitters and drugs trying to restore that
Inhibit effects of monoamine oxidase (monoamine oxidase is an enzyme breaks down neurotransmitters - so not broken down and more available for use)
Block reuptake of neurotransmitters back to neurotransmitter released them; less neurotransmitters available to exert effect on next neurotransmitters in cleft
Regulate receptor sites and/or breakdown - helping increase receptor sites available for neurotransmitters and/or breakdown allowing more regardless type drug give
Goal: More neurotransmitter in synaptic cleft
Depression: drug therapy
Indication: depression (Allow 4-6 weeks for therapeutic effect); some off-label uses: fibromyalgia
Black box warning: Increased risk for suicidal ideation when start them (esp. children and young adults)
Contraindications: Pregnancy (X - cross barrier)/lactation - excreted in milk; seizure disorders - increases risk for underlying seizures
Caution: older adult more susceptible to AE - esp anticholinergic
Drug-drug: More than 1 antidepressant increases risk for AE and serotonin syndrome; Serotonergic drugs - increase serotonin levels: fentanyl, St. John’s Wort
Serotonin syndrome: Initiation, increased dose, or overdose on drug; usually self-limiting after discontinuing drug; multiple antidepressants - more on higher risk; first line treatment stop drug and monitor; severe: dialysis
Gen: antidepressants
Delirium
Agitation - imp monitor for in combo
Tachycardia/HTN
Sweating - imp monitor for in combo
Clonus (muscle spasms) - imp monitor for in combo
Hyperreflexia - imp monitor for in combo
Tremors - imp monitor for in combo
Shivering
Common: - most self-limiting
- Serotonin syndrome CM
Hyperthermia
Seizures
Rhabdomyolysis
Renal failure
Cardiac dysrhythmias
Severe: - Serotonin syndrome CM
Tricyclic
MAOI’s
More significant and severe adverse effects
Toxicity lethal
Pregnancy Category D/X
First generation - Antidepressant classifications
SSRI
SNRI
More tolerable adverse effects, but still bothersome - same AE but much less severe
Usually first line treatment - sim efficacy but more tolerable because AE not as severe
Pregnancy Category C
Second generation - Antidepressant classifications
Orthostatic hypotension first week of therapy
GI effects (n/v/d)
Drowsiness or insomnia
Anticholinergic effects
Weight loss or gain
Sexual dysfunction
Prolonged QTc
Antidepressants: gen adverse effects
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline
Reduce reuptake of serotonin and NE into nerves (block cholinergic, histaminergic, adrenergic, dopaminergic receptors) - block lot diff receptor sites resulting in all diff factors
MoA: - Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline
refractory to other treatment for depression; not used as first line - hinders compliance
Use: - Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline
CV disease, seizure disorder
Caution: - Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline
MAOI’s
Drug-drug: - Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline
sedation, anticholinergic effects, see general; overdose: cardiac arrhythmias and seizure
AE: - Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline
admin at HS since highly sedating; see general
Nursing: - Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA): Prototype: amitriptyline