Test 1 - Medications for Mental Health Flashcards
What are the nurse’s role in medication administration for mental health?
- Informed consent must be on file for EACH medication
- Assess for changes in behavior
- assess if causes side effects
- awareness of interactions with other medications
- Pt/Fam education re: meds, compliance, labs
NOT A CURE!!!
WHat is steady state?
an even level of the medication in the blood. A balance between metabolism/elimination and distribution of the medication.
What is half life?
time it takes for blood plasma concentration in blood to be reduced to 50%
Who might need a smaller dose?
elderly pt with decreased kidney and liver function and children.
drugs must be ____ soluble to pass through the blood brain barrier
lipid
Catecholimines are derived from _____
tyrosine
What are some examples of catecholamines?
epinephrine
norepinephrine
dopamine
(all end in ine)
What are the three ways that medication can acts on the body?
block (block receptors…ex decrease dopamine by blocking receptors)
inhibit reuptake (allowing more to pass through synapse)
metabolism (liver, first pass effect, etc)
An agonist ______ activity of neurotransmitter
An antagonist ______ activity of neurotransmitter
Ag - increases
Antag - decreases
P450 System - easy to read nurse’s overview
http://www.drugguide.com/ddo/view/Davis-Drug-Guide/109519/all/The_Cytochrome_P450_System:What_Is_It_and_Why_Should_I_Care
An inducing agent can ______ the rate of another drug’s metabolism by as much as two- to threefold.
increase. increase metabolism = decreased effects of the medication.
Need to increase med that is being metabolized quickly to ensure therapeutic effect.
When an inducing agent is prescribed with another medication, the dosage of the other medication may need to be adjusted since the rate of metabolism is increased and the effect of the medication reduced. This can lead to a therapeutic failure of the medication.
If a medication is taken with an agent that inhibits its metabolism, then the drug level can _____ and possibly result in a harmful or adverse effect.
rise
no metabolism means it is building up in the body
Some substances can increase the production of isoenzymes that metabolize several antipsychotics and antidepressants. This INCREASES the metabolism, thereby decreasing their plasma level. What is a common example?
smoking cigarettes
When grapefruit is consumed with antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication, what happens to the level of medication plasma level?
The plasma level increases. Grapefruit juice inhibits the enzyme that metabolizes the drug. If not metabolized, more drug remains in the plasma.
Neurotransmitters are _____ messengers released from the axons into the synaptic cleft
chemical
Antipsychotic meds work by blocking/partially blocking _______ receptors. This reduces agression, decreases psychotic symptoms.
dopamine
If 80% block of dopamine occurs, what might it cause?
EPS - extrapyramidal symptoms
What are eps symptoms?
- Dystonia
- Drug induced parkinsonism
- Akathisia
- Tardive Dyskinesis
What is dystonia? examples?
Dystonia is an uncontrolled contraction of the muscles. Examples are:
- Torticollis - neck twisting
- Opisthonos - neck bending backward (causing upward facing position)
- oculogyric crisis - eyes are stuck looking back into head. Can only see whites. (SEEN WITH 1st GEN)
What happens in drug induced parkinsonism?
Looks like parkinsons:
- shuffling gate
- cogwheeling.
- pinrolling
- tremors
- mask like face
What is akathisia mistaken for?
anxiety
restless, not able to sit, need to keep moving
Is Tardive Dyskinesis reversible?
What does it look like?
No
lip smacking licking lips grimacing foot tapping rocking
caused by over-abundance of acetylcholine.
What medications can be taken to control EPS (given with the med that can cause EPS)?
Medications with anticholinergic properties (anti cholinergic = against rest and digest…puts you in fight or flight…increases fight or flight properties)
Examples:
TrihexyPHENidyl (Artane)
^DiPHENhydramine (Benedryl)
^BENZTROPINE/Benxtropine Mesylate (Cogentin)
memory trick: TriDiBenzphenhydraminpine
PHEN-PHEN-BENZ
What is NMS?
Neuroleptic Syndrome - severe and life threatening (movie we watched)