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Module 7: Introduction to Psychopharmacology – Read Townsend

Bonus Chapter 1 (online oo! resource"#

Instructions: Please fll in the blanks and answer the questions in

the space provided:

1. What is the mechanism of action by which antidepressant medications

achieve the desired eect (regardless of the dierent physiological processes

by which this action is accomplished)?

Increase the concentration of norepinephrine, serotonin, and/or

dopamine in the body

. !or what m"st the n"rse be on the alert with the client who is receiving

antidepressant medication?

#s the dr"g ta$es eect the mood may shift and energy increases,patient may now have the energy to implement s"icide plan.

%. #s the n"rse, when wo"ld yo" e&pect the client to begin showing signs of

symptomatic relief after the initiation of antidepressant therapy?

It typically ta$es 1'w$s b"t it depends on the medication.

. ame an e&ample of a tricyclic antidepressant* $la%il. ame an e&ample of

an +#I &ardil. ame an e&ample of an --I Pro'ac.

. 0escribe some common side eects and n"rsing implications for tricyclicantidepressants.

ommon side eects incl"de* dry mo"th* s"garless candy, ice fre2"ent

water sips lots of 3"ids, foods high in 4ber 5 e2"est order for 6- dose

orthostatic hypotension5 ise slowly for sitting lying positions5 +onitor for

signs 7 symptoms

ypertensi%e crisis is the most potentially life'threatening adverse eect

of +#Is. -ymptoms for which the n"rse and client m"st be on the alert

incl"de* 8iver dysf"nction, severe occipital headaches, palpitations,shortness of breath, na"sea 7 vomiting, m"scle rigidity, fever, sweating,

blood press"re increase, chest pain, coma, death if it progressed w/o

intervention

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What m"st be done to prevent these symptoms from occ"rring? (9o"r answer

m"st incl"de some e&amples.)

#void foods high in tyramine li$e aged cheese li$e swiss, avoid pic$les,

herring, preserved meats, beer, wine, chocolate, yog"rt, : cold meds

and diet pills

;. 8ithi"m carbonate is commonly prescribed for ipolar mania. +any times

when these individ"als are started on lithi"m therapy, the physician also

orders an antipsychotic medication. Why might he or she do so?

#ntipsychotics are prescribed to decrease the hyperactivity on an

immediate basis "ntil the lithi"m can ta$e eect

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1%. What is tho"ght to be the mechanism of action that prod"ces the

desired eect with antipsychotic medications?

- depression

1. DhenothiaEines are an e&ample of a FtypicalG antipsychotic gro"p. Aivetwo e&amples of phenothiaEines and two e&amples of the newer FatypicalG

antipsychotics.

 :horaEine 7 proli&in risperdal 7 Eypre&a

1. 0escribe potential adverse hormonal eects associated with

antipsychotic therapy.

0ecreased libido, retrograde eHac"lation, gynecomastia, amenorrhea,

weight gain

1;. #gran"locytosis is a potentially very serio"s side eect of antipsychotic

therapy. :he n"rse and client sho"ld be on the alert for symptoms of sore

throat, )e%er, and malaise.

1

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