Psychopharmacology Flashcards

1
Q

Legal and ethical issues nurses must consider when administering psychotropic medication?

A
  • education, re lifestyle and side effects
  • consent
  • rights of medication administration
  • can be often via MI or oral medication- least restrictive practice, site, trauma, history
  • this can be done when a patient is involuntary
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2
Q

What are some factors that contribute to non-adherence who psychotropic medication?

A
  • stigma and discrimination
  • side effects
  • getting better (then discontinuing use)
  • cost of pharmacy access\
  • fear of addiction
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3
Q

what is a “PRN” medication when might it be used?

A

“as required” used in break through psychotic symptoms, anxiety agitation

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4
Q

what are depot antipsychotics? when might these be used?

A

IMI often administered 2/52. used when orally not adhered.

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5
Q

Consideration related to psychotropic drug use: pregnant and lactating women

A

haemodilution, foetal addiction, foetal development, medication transference through breast milk

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6
Q

Consideration related to psychotropic drug use: children and adolescents

A

dosaging (lower doses due to drug naivety and lower body weight)
contradictions oth other medications

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7
Q

Consideration related to psychotropic drug use: older people

A

metabolism may be affected, altered due to liver and kidney function potentially decreasing with age
falls risk
frailty
dementia/ or delirium
polypharmacy and drug interactions

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8
Q

Pharamcodynamics

A

effects of drugs and mechanism of action

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9
Q

pharmacokenetics

A

movement of drugs within the body

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10
Q

Akathisia

A

movement disorder characterised by internal restless and drive to move.
side effects of some antipsychotic medication

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11
Q

Ataxia

A

lack of voluntary muscle coordination incorporating gait

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12
Q

Dysarthria

A

Slow and slurred speech that can be difficult to understand

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13
Q

Tinnitus

A

perception of noise or ringing in the ears

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14
Q

Extrapyramidal side effects

A

includes pseudo parkinsonism, akathisia, dystonia and dyskinesia side effects from antipsychotic medication

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15
Q

Metabolic syndorme

A

cluster of conditions that increase the risk of diabetes, stroke and heart disease. this includes increased waist circumference, high BSL, high triglycerides and increase BP

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16
Q

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

A

rare life threatening condition as a result of some antipsychotic medications (or combination of medication) including fever, muscle rigidity, altered MSE and autonomic dysfunction

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17
Q

What are antidepressants?

A

Antidepressants work by balancing chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters to address deficiencies in key areas of the brain

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18
Q

What is the biomedical explanation for depression?

A

That depression stems from a deficiency of norepinephrine (NE), dopamins, or serotonin in key areas of the brain.

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19
Q

What are the 3 ways an antidepressant addresses deficiencys in the brain?

A
  1. They inhibit the effects of monoamine oxide thus increasing serotonin and norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft
  2. They block the reuptake of specific neurotransmitters leading to a build up of these in the synaptic cleft
  3. They are involved in regulation at receptor sites and the breakdown of neurotransmitters
20
Q

What are some mild symptoms of serotonin syndrome?

A

Increased heart rate, shivering, sweating, dilated pupils, myoclonus, and over-responsive reflexes.

21
Q

What do Selective serotonic reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and related drugs do? (Antidepressants).

A

Simply, they are the first line of treatment for depression and have less side-effects than others. Common side effects include: Drowsiness, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, nausea, and vomiting.

22
Q

What is serotonin syndrome?

A

Serotonin syndrome is a serious drug reaction. It is caused by medications that build up high levels of serotonin in the body. The onset is often rapid and can be life-threatening

23
Q

What are the common side effects from Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)?

A

dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention, drowsiness, and weight gain

24
Q

What are the common side effects from Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)?

A

Postural hypotension, constipation, drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction

25
Q

What are mood stabilisers?

A

Drugs used for the treatment of bipolar affective disorders and schizo-affective disorders - they may also treat manic episodes

26
Q

What is the drug of choice for treatment of acute mania and ongoing maintenance?

A

Lithium

27
Q

How does Lithium work to treat acute mania?

A

It mimics the affects of sodium and compromises the ability of neurons to release, activate and respond to neurotransmitters.

28
Q

What are some common side affects of lithium?

A

Tremor, stomach upset, polyuria, and polydipsia

29
Q

What do Anticonvulsants do?

A

Anticonvulsants work by calming hyperactivity in the brain in various ways (Stabilising nerve membranes throughout the CNS)

30
Q

What are Anxiolytic (Anti-anxiety) medications?

A

Anxiolytics are a class of medications used to prevent or treat anxiety symptoms or disorders

31
Q

What do Benzodiazepines (Anxiolytics) do?

A

They are sedatives / anxiolytics (relieve anxiety) that act in the limbic system to treat anxiety disorders, agitation, insomnia, muscle spasm, and alcohol withdrawl.

32
Q

Why are Benxodiazepines prescribed for short-term use only?

A

Because people can become physically dependent on them

33
Q

What is pharmocology?

A

The study of drugs including their actions and effects in living systems

34
Q

What is clinical pharmacology?

A

A branch of pharmacology that uses drugs to treat, prevent and diagnose disease. It addresses two key concerns: What drugs do to the body and how they do it and also how the body affects a specific drug after administration

35
Q

What are the two different names a drug will have?

A

A generic name and a brand name

36
Q

What processes can have a major impact on the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs?

A

Infections and diseases processes

37
Q

Understanding pharmacokinetics help nurses to?

A

Anticipate therapeutic and adverse drug effects and plan appropriate nursing interventions to ensure the safest and most efficient drug regimen for the patient.

38
Q

Where are drugs absorbed in the body?

A

most absorption occurs in the small intestine

39
Q

What is the most frequently used route of drug administration?

A

Oral

40
Q

What are some barriers to the absorption of drugs when taken orally?

A

A large percentage of the oral dose will be destroyed before it reaches the tissues (First pass effect).

41
Q

What is the first pass effect?

A

The first pass effect is a phenomenon of drug metabolism whereby the concentration of a drug, specifically when administered orally, is greatly reduced before it reaches the systemic circulation.

42
Q

What is the process of distribution?

A

A reversible transfer of a drug between one location and another in the body.

43
Q

What is the most important site for metabolism?

A

The liver

44
Q

What happens to drugs in the liver?

A

They are changed into new, less active chemicals by enzymes in the liver

45
Q

Clearance (CL) or excretion is what?

A

The removal of the drug from the body