PHARMACOLOGY Flashcards
Typical Antipsychotics
Neurotransmitter(s)
Dopamine receptor blocker —> decreases dopamine
Typical Antipsychotic Medications
Haloperidol (Haldol) —> most common
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
Thioridazine (Mellaril)
Mesoridazine (Serentil)
Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
Perphenazine (Trilafon)
Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
Side Effects/ Adverse Reactions of Typical Antipsychotics
Typical antipsychotics have high affinity for dopamine receptors which causes
serious side effects called extrapyramidal
- Pseudoparkinsonism
- Acute Dystonia (medical emergency)
- Akathisia
- Tardive Dyskinesia
Symptoms of Pseudoparkinsonism
Stooped posture
Shuffling gait
Bradykinesia (brady- = slow, -kinesia = movement)
Tremor at rest
Pill-rolling motion of the hand
Symptoms of Acute Dystonia (medical emergency)
Facial grimacing
Involuntary upward eye movement
Muscle spasms of the tongue face neck, and back (back muscles cause trunk to arch forward
Laryngeal spasms (throat tightened, voice change)
Symptoms of Akathisia
Restlessness
Trouble standing
Paces the floor
Feet in constant motion, rocking back and forth
Symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia
Protrusion and rolling of the tongue
Sucking and smacking of lips
Chewing motion
Facial dyskinesia (dys- = bad/difficult, -kinesia = movement)
Involuntary movement of the body and extremities
(caused by long-term use of typical antipsychotics)
Nursing Priorities for Tardive Dyskinesia
lower dose of typicals
Nursing Priorities for Parkinsonism and Akathisia
Fall Risk Precautions
Nursing Priorities for Acute Dystonia
medical emergency. Treated primarily with a stat IM of COGENTIN (Benztropine Mesylate)
Atypical Antipsychotics
Neurotransmitter(s)
Affect both dopamine (decreased) and serotonin (decreased)
Atypical Antipsychotic Medications
Clozapine (Clozaril) —> Used for treatment resistant schizophrenia, meaning
when other medications are not working
Risperidone (Risperdal)
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
Quetiapine (Seroquel) —> good for older adults
Depot Injections:
Risperdal Consta
Invega Sustenna
Abilify Maintena
Invega Trinza
Side Effects/Adverse Reactions of Atypical Antipsychotics ( SHORT-TERM: ANTICHOLINERGIC EFFECTS)
- related to Clozapine, Olanzapine, and
Quetiapine (all but Risperidone) - Note: Anticholinergic = anti-parasympathetic = sympathetic effects
BRAIN: drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations
EYES: Blurred vision, dry eyes
MOUTH: dry mouth
SKIN: Skin-flushing, unable to sweat, overheating
HEART: rapid heart rate
BOWEL: constipation
BLADDER: urine retention (unable to empty bladder)
Side Effects/Adverse Reactions of Atypical Antipsychotics ( LONG-TERM: ANTICHOLINERGIC EFFECTS)
-Decreased salivation (dental caries, ulceration of gums and buccal mucosa)
-Decreased bronchial secretions (mucous plugging of small airways in patients with asthma or bronchitis)
-Decreased sweating (hyperthermia)
Increased pupil size (photophobia, precipitation of acute narrow angle glaucoma)
-Inhibition of accommodation (blurred vision, especially when reading small print)
- Increased heart rate (angina, MI)
- Difficulty urinating (bladder distention, urinary retention
- Decreased gastrointestinal motility (Constipation)
Side Effects/Adverse Reactions of Atypical Antipsychotics : CLOZAPINE
Agranulocytosis – major side effect (drop in WBC count)
Increased risk for infection
Orthostatic hypotension – systolic BP drops when standings up because
blood vessels fail to constrict
Side Effects/Adverse Reactions of Atypical Antipsychotics : METABOLIC SYNDROME
Related to clozapine and zyprexa
Impair hunger, satiety and fullness cues, so likely to gain weight. So, high
likelihood of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
(Metabolic Syndrome: Visceral obesity, Insulin resistance, hypertension, high triglycerides, low HDL-Cholesterol)
Special Precautions for Clozapine (Atypical Antipsychotics)
Clozapine: regular blood work
Nursing Priorities for Clozapine
Clozapine: assess for infection, fever, etc. Start with low dose and increase
slowly while monitoring
Nursing Priorities for Zyprexa and Clozapine
Clozapine and zyprexa: educate about impaired hunger/satiety cues
Antidepressants: SSRIs
Neurotransmitters
Seratonin
This is the most common type
Antidepressants: SSRIs Medications
Prozac/Fluoxetine
Luvox/Fluoxamine
Paxil/Paroxetine
Zoloft/Sertraline
Celexa/Citalopram
Antidepressants: SSRIs Side Effects/ Adverse Reactions
Sexual dysfunction
GI upset when taken on empty stomach
Anticholinergic effects
Seratonin syndrome when mixed with MAOIs
Nervousness/Aggitation
Sedation
Special Precautions with Antidepressants: SSRIs
Take with food to avoid GI upset
No mixing with MAOIs
Take in the morning to avoid nervousness
Take in the evening if causes sedation
Nursing Priorities for SSRIs (Antidepressant)
Education