NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment - Comparing and Contrasting Pharmacologic Options for the Treatment of Generalized

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common, long-term mental disorders that is associated with feelings of anxiety and illogical concern in a broad range of events rather than one single event (Admin, 2020). Symptoms of GAD include high blood pressure, rapid breathing, difficulty sleeping, sweating, etc. Patients with GAD are constantly stressed and exhausted. Anxiolytic medications, such as buspirone (BuSpar), are used to treat GAD. BuSpar works by inhibiting the release of serotonin, thus decreasing the activation of postsynaptic serotonin receptors (Quock, 2021). This improves the patient’s mood and symptoms of GAD. BuSpar is given orally and is not a sedative. It has no abuse potential. Hepatic and renal impairment causes an increased amount of serum BuSpar in the bloodstream. Whereas age and gender have no significant impact on the pharmacokinetics of BuSpar. Treatment Options Anxiolytics are not the only medications that are used to treat GAD. There are many treatment options available for patients. Some other treatment options include antidepressants, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and benzodiazepines. Antidepressants are effective in the treatment of GAD and are used concurrently to treat depression. They have no potential for abuse. SNRIs and SSRIs, such as venlafaxine (Effexor CR), duloxetine (Cymbalta), paroxetine (Paxil), and escitalopram (Lexapro), are effective in patients who have depression in addition to GAD (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). SSRIs are effective, but not well tolerated. Benzodiazepines have sedative and psychomotor slowing properties, and they carry the risk of dependency (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). Only 6 benzodiazepines are approved for anxiety, including alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan), which are the most often prescribed agents. In addition to pharmacologic treatment options, there are non-pharmacologic treatment options that are used to treat GAD. Some non-pharmacologic treatment options include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, biofeedback, relaxation training, lifestyle changes, and herbal remedies. Lifestyle changes that improve symptoms of GAD include cutting down or eliminating smoking, alcohol, and caffeine; utilizing effective coping strategies; being active; resting/sleeping; and a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables (Admin, 2020). Kava, chamomile, valerian, lavender, passionflower, lemon balm, and theanine are herbal remedies that can improve the symptoms of GAD. References Admin, F. (2020). Generalized anxiety. Mental Health Foundation. anxiety/? gclid=CjwKCAiA5Y6eBhAbEiwA_2ZWIWT08Apmr4ytyKxg53pBWQiHJFeuWWltUi PvLt4yQNhKHfceqQqofRoCFdYQAvD_BwE Quock, R. (2021). Chapter 17: Anxiolytics – Drugs and behavior. anxiolytics/ Rosenthal, L. D., & Burchum, J. R. (2021). Lehne’s pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (2nd ed.) St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.