PHARM EXAM 5 Flashcards
Parkinson’s Disease
- Resting Tremors “pill rolling”
- Rigidity “cog wheel” (difficulty eating)
- Bradykinesia (difficulty initiating movement)
- Postural instability (stooped, fall risk)
- Flat affect
- Difficulity starting a movement
- difficult to stop movements
- imbalance of ACH & Dopamine ( not enough dopamine)
Cause of Parkinson’s Disease
- Imbalance of acetylcholine (stimulation of muscle) and -Dopamine (relaxation of muscle)
- Normally there is a balance of both neurotransmitters that allow for normal posture, muscle tone and prevent involuntary movements.
- Treatment : increase Dopamine & decrease Ach (CNS)
Medications to improve symptoms would increase dopamine or decrease acetylcholine.
Parkinson’s Drugs (too much ACH, too little dopamine)
- Levadopa-Carbidopa (is synthetic dopamine)
- Pramipexole (is a dopamine agonist, acts like dopamine)
- Benztropine (blocks acetylcholine in the central nervous system/ anticholinergic)
As a nurse you know when treatment is effective when: Pt is able to fx with less assistance and increased ability of ADLs
Levadopa-Carbidopa
too much ACH, too little dopamine
-Levodopa crosses the blood brain barrier and becomes dopamine
Carbidopa prevents the metabolism of Levodopa allowing more to cross the blood brain barrier.
Levadopa-Carbidopa Side effects & cautions
Main side effects are orthostatic hypotension and dizziness **so if pt has HTN –> pt is at risk for falls **
- Can also cause tardive dyskinesia (uncontrolled involuntary movements) - tongue movements . blinking MUST LET MD KNOW AND FIND ALTERNATIVE OTHERWISE MAY BECOME PERMANENT
- Med can take up to 3 weeks to work
Should be stopped gradually, to abrupt could lead to increase in Parkinson’s symptoms.
Caution when used with antihypertensive medications. Antacids increase absorption and increase risk of toxicity
Monitor Liver Function
*can not be taken with High protein diet will decrease med absorption / can not be taken with MAOI can cause HTN crisis
Benztropine- Anti Cholonergic in the CNS
decreases ACH
Divided doses or all before bedtime
Anticholinergic side effects and contraindications
Overdose is treated with Physostigmine
SIDE EFFECTS: (ANTI- SLUDGE)
- Pupils dilate
- Saliva is inhibited
- Heart accelerates/ Blood vessel constrict
- Bronchioles dilate
- Digestion is inhibited
- Liver glycogen breakdown promoted
- Adrenal gland releases epinephrine and norepinephrine
- Sex organs inhibited
AVOID PT w/ BPH- Tachy- increased BP- CHF- kidney problems
Drugs for Alzheimer’s
Cholinergics (in CNS)
Donepezil
Alzheimer’s : Scaring/ lost of brain vol.
-Donepezil- Cholinesterase Inhibitor (Cholinergic)
-Enhancing the effects of acetylcholine in the cerebral cortex can improve memory.
-Modest improvement in 1-4 weeks.
-Does not treat severe stages.
Interaction with cholinergic and anticholinergics
-Contraindicated with hx of peptic ulcer or GI bleed
-Can cause hepatotoxicity
** In early stage you want to increase ACH with cholonergic meds** Can not be used in later stage of Alzheimer’s
**Increased risk of bleeding if Pt has peptic ulcer- if pt states he/she has dark stools nurse should be worried.
SIDE EFFECTS:
- Nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms
- CNS effects (insomnia, dizziness, headache)
- Bradycardia, syncope
Seizures
** Extra Nerve activity in the Brain that cause activation depolarazation/ repolar of the muscles in the Brain**
-Abnormal or uncontrolled neural impulse
-Different from convulsion-muscle spasms.
Types:
Partial (simple or complex), generalized (absent, tonic-clonic, atonic), special syndromes (fever)
** SEVERE SEIZURE: Status Epilepticus**
Seizures Medication Management
The key is to slow electrical activity. (Make the cell more negative, do not allow it to become positive.)
Allow chloride into the cell
Decrease amount of sodium in the cell
Decrease amount of calcium in the cell
Drugs that like GABA- Cell is more negative
Drugs that make the cell more negative (increase chloride in the cell)
Phenobarbital (Barbiturate)
“Peanutbutter-ball”
Phenobarbital (Barbiturate) GABA receptor agonist
IM preferred, rarely IV
Tissue irritant can lead to tissue necrosis
Respiratory depression, CNS depression
Pregnancy category D
Mainly used in Emergency - also used in animal
RARELY GIVE OUT ANYMORE
Drugs that like GABA-Cell is more negative
Drugs that make the cell more negative (increase chloride in the cell)
Diazepam (Benzodiazepine)
- *WHEN Pt is in Status Epilepticus **
- MORE COMMON MED*
Diazepam (Benzodiazepine) GABA receptor agonist
PO, IM, IV
If given IV should monitor RR every 5-15 minutes
Sedation and dependency
Pregnancy category D
BIGGEST worry is resp. depression - NEED to monitor every 5 min!!- worried about AIR-way and breathing.
Drugs that make the cell less positive (decrease sodium in the cell)
Phenytoin- (Dilantin)
IV : When someone comes in seizure
- Mixed with saline only. If mixes with dextrose will precipitate which can lead to embolus (always flush extra)
- -** Start a new line other arm or Start a new IV line**
- Use large vein or central line
- Can cause tissue necrosis
Can also be given PO
Pregnancy category D
ONLY GIVE WITH SALINE
Drugs that make the cell less positive (decrease sodium in the cell)
Phenytoin- (Dilantin)
Side Effects
*Narrow therapeutic window, requires close monitoring of phenytoin blood levels. Therapeutic Range: 10-20 microgram/mL** If test comes back @ 20micro/ml- leave it it is in good range- do not call MD JUST KEEP MONITORING
- Multiple side effects: dysrhythmia, hypotension(brady), hyperglycemia, confusion, slurred speech, agranulocytosis(low WBC), anemia
- Severe skin reactions like SJS
- Connective tissue disorders: lupus
- Gingival Hyperplasia
- Blood test*: CBC/ electrolyte/ BMP/ BS/ phenytoin
DO not stop med abruptly- even though pt has not have seizure for a long time - meds are usually used forever
Drugs that make the cell less positive (decrease sodium in the cell)
Valproic Acid
IV and PO
Rules for PO administration: Do not chew, do not take with carbonated beverages. *Could open capsules and sprinkle on food if cannot swallow.**
Pregnancy category D
Drugs that make the cell less positive (decrease sodium in the cell)
Valproic Acid
SIDE EFFECTS
- Sedation
- Drowsy- no driving
- Prolonged bleeding times- use soft tooth brush/ no razor
- Bone marrow suppression- platelets/ INR/ Infection
- Photosensitivity- sun burn wear long sleeves/ sun block
- Fatal Liver Toxicity- should not drink alcohol only water/ avoid Tylenol
- Have labs: Liver pannel/ PTT/ INR/ CBC/ Platelets
- Preg Cat D (DONT DO IT)*
Drugs that make the cell less positive (decrease calcium in the cell)
Ethosuximide
- Ethosuximide*
- Pregnancy category C
- Psychosis, behavior change, suicide ideation
- Bone marrow suppression
- Photosensitivity
- Fatal Hepatotoxicity
Anxiety
Apprehension, tension, uneasiness that stems from anticipation of danger. The source of danger is unknown.
Feelings are disproportionate to danger.
Types:
-Generalized Anxiety Disorder
-Panic Disorder
-Phobias
-Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Best treatment is anti-depressant - used to calm down the person
Anxiety Med
LorazepamGABA receptor agonist
(Atiran )
- PO or IV
- When given IV monitor RR every 5-15 minutes
- Drowsiness and sedation/ CNS depression/ Liver disease**
- With IV the effects are more severe, additionally can cause disorientation and amnesia, BP change and vision change
- Cannot use with glaucoma, impaired brain function, liver disease, misuse/dependence (pt will go through withdraws)
- *Best practice is to give to Pt & observe - pt may get bad SE like Decrease in RR and disoriented/ or more amped up**
- IV Dose of Lorazepam - have to monitor RR every 5 min for the amount of time pt is on meds
- AS A NURSE you will need to go through med list and make sure you order the med if you see it otherwise pt will go through withdraws**
Insomnia
Sleep allows for restoration/ body repair as well as allows time to process new information collected during the day.
Insomnia is inability to fall or remain asleep.
Insomnia and anxiety are often associated with each other.
Types of Insomnia:
-Short term or behavioral insomnia
-Long term insomnia
-Rebound insomnia
Insomnia-Zolpidem (Short term insomnia)
Short term insomnia management (7-10) days
Rapid onset (give immediately before bed)
Neuropsychiatric effects BLACK BOX WARNING*
Sleep walk/ sleep drive
Help PT relax before bed:
- no electronics 30 min before bed
- relaxed environment/no caffine
- Med will work quickly