Ms. Judith Wikel RN BSN MEd

We’ve made it to the FINAL lap in MH!

Remember the PowerPoint is an outline to facilitate study.

Read and understand objectives and watch videos that pertain to psychotherapeutic drugs.

Good Luck!

Psychotherapeutic drugs - are powerful chemicals that produce profound effects on the mind, emotions, and body.

Altering chemical balances within the nervous system.

LyricaPregabalin (Lyrica) - is currently being

used to treat several kinds of anxiety disorders as well as seizures and neuropathic pain.

Side effects are fewer than those of other antianxiety drugs, so clients are more likely to comply with treatment.

The inability to sit still

Extrapyramidal side effects (EPSEs) - abnormal movements produced by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain.Refer to Box 7-6 page 68.

A serious and potentially fatal side effect with unstable vital signs, fever, confusion, muscle rigidity, tremor, incontinence.

Antianxiety agents

Antidepressants

Antimanics

Antipsychotics

Beta-blockers for anxiety!!!!Please refer to Table 7-2 on page 64

Propranolol (Inderal), atenoloe (Tenormin) have been found useful in treating social anxieties. These drugs reduce palpitations, sweating,

tremors, blood pressure and heart rate.

Antianxiety agents are drugs that reduce the psychic tension of stress.Side effects of benzodiazepines (commonly

prescribed antianxiety medications) are usually minimal.

Because long-term use of antianxiety drugs can result in dependence, therapy for clients is usually limited to a few months.

Informed consent - is the process of presenting clients with information about the benefits, risks, and side effects of specific treatments, thus enabling them to make voluntary and knowledgeable decisions about their care.

Noncompliance - an informed decision made by a client not to follow a prescribed treatment program.

Many outpatient clients do not take their medications as prescribed.

Even in patient clients do not take their medications consistently.

What is the difference in noncompliance and informed consent?A client has started a treatment plan and

decides to stop is an example of noncompliance.

A client has entered a treatment facility and decides to not utilize the treatment teams suggestions/plan is an example of informed consent.

Make sense????

Lithium must be taken on a regular basis at the same time daily. If one misses a dose wait until the next

scheduled time and take the lithium.

Lithium is well absorbed into the bloodstream and execrated faster than sodium by

the kidneys. For this reason clients taking Lithium must be cautioned about balancing their salt intake, fluid intake, and activity.

What is the therapeutic level ofLithium? Hint: refer to page 63.

Peripheral nervous systemCranial nervesSpinal nervesAutonomic nerves

Parasympathetic SympatheticUnderstand the

sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for immediate fight or flight mechanism.

Central nervous systemBrain Spinal cord

Irreversible side effect of long-term treatment that produces involuntary, repeated movements of muscles in the face, trunk, arms, and legs.

Dry mouth Blurred vision Photophobia Tachycardia Hypotension

Caregivers must protect clients from falls during the first few weeks of therapy because the chance for low blood pressure (hypotension) is greatest when clients stand or changes positions suddenly.

Please refer to Box 7-1 Page 65 Individuals taking MAOIs must avoid

drinking alcoholic beverages.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) SSRIs are the first choice in treatment for

many physicians because their side effects are more manageable.

Assessment - continuous assessment of the patient’s response to drug therapy.

Coordination – assisting in the coordination of the client's care.

Teaching - teaching client's about their medications.

Psychotherapeutic medications act mainly on the:A) nervous systemB) mindC) emotionsD) endocrine system

Answer is A.

Nursing care for clients receiving psychotherapeutic drugs includes assessment, coordination, administration, monitoring, and evaluation, and:A) compromiseB) prescriptionC) forced complianceD) teaching

The Answer is D

Extrapyramidal side effects are most commonly associated with which class of drugs?A) antidepressantsB) anxiolyticsC) benzodiazepinesD) antipsychotics

The answer is D

Tardive dyskinesia is an extrapyramidal side effect that is characterized by:A) the inability to sitB) muscular rigidityC) involuntary, repeated muscle movement

of the face, trunk, arms, and legs.D) unstable vital signs, fever, confusion,

and incontinence.

The answer is C.

We made it to the end. Study hard Good luck on the FINAL.

Keep on truckin the end of nursing school is near…

Judith Wikel RN