mood stabilizing drugs

Question 1

what makes SSRIs safer than some other medications

Answer 1

safer in overdose in terms of cardiac toxicity

Question 2

sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine are examples of

Answer 2

SSRIs

Question 3

patient is showing agitation, fever, tachycardia, hypertension, sweating, tremors, diarrhea. what labs should I look at? what would I be worried that they ahve?

Answer 3

if they are on SSRIs i may worry about serotonin syndrome. check LFTs, CBC, renal labs

Question 4

duloxetine and venlafaxine are what types of drugs?

Answer 4

SSNRIs

Question 5

trazodone, bupraprion, mirtazapine are examples of what

Answer 5

atypical antidepressants

Question 6

what would I educate a patient on an atypical antidepressant about?

Answer 6

otherthostatic hypotension, preventing anticholinergic effects (constipation, dry mouth)

Question 7

a patient is complaining of flu-like symptoms, nausea, “electric shock” sensations in the head, vertigo and insomnia. what might I ask them?

Answer 7

have you recently stopped an SSRI abruptly? (discontinuation syndrome)

Question 8

Who would I not want to see with a prescription for a tricyclic antidepressant (imipramine, clomipramine)?

Answer 8

someone with suicidal ideation. they are very dangerous in overdose (cardiotoxicity)

Question 9

what do I need to teach a patient on a MOAI (like Nardil, Parnate) for depression?

Answer 9

to avoid high tyramine foods such as aged cheese, soy, beef

Question 10

what is the theraputic range for lithium? what is considered a toxic level?

Answer 10

0.6-1.2. >1.5 toxic.

Question 11

course hand tremors, confusion, slurred speech, hypotension, vomiting, seizure and tinnitus are symptoms of what emergency?

Answer 11

lithium toxicity

Question 12

how do i intervene in lithium toxicity?

Answer 12

hold lithium, rehydrate to flush kidneys, order blood work to monitor lith levels and urea/cr

Question 13

what drug is used (off label) as a mood stabilizer?

Answer 13

anticonvulsants like gabapentin