GWCC NUR 152: Pharm Final Questions With Complete
Solutions
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Antidepressants, blocks reuptakes of serotonin receptors
- No cardiovascular or anticholinergic side effects
- Takes 2-4 weeks to see full effects
- Used to treat OCD, eating disorders, bipolar, panic disorders,
autism
Side effects: Restlessness, sedation, suicidal ideations
Imipramine
Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Produce antidepressant and tranquilizing effects
- Elevate mood, improve appetite and increase alertness in 2-4
weeks
- Very effective agents, but they are also associatedwith serious
sideeffects, so patients must be monitored closely while taking
these medications
- smoking can cause decreased effect of medication
Phenelzine (Nardil)
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Highly effective antidepressants
- Potential to cause hypersenitive reaction when taken when a
substance called tyramine
- Side effects: ortho, dizziness heacache, blurred vision
,Lithium Carbonate
Mood Stabilizing Agents
- Used to treat acute mania and maintenance of recurrent manic
attacked
- Baseline liver and renal function tests need to be taken
Therapeuticlevels are required because of small therapeuticindex
- Side effects: Increased thirst, increased urination, N/V,
abdominal cramping
Diazepam (Valium)
Benzodiazepam
- Used for anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, seizures, sedation and
myalgia/muscle spasms
- oral, rectal, IV
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Benzodiazepam
- Used for anxiety disorders and for short-term relief of anxiety
- Used as a preoperative sedative and to diminish patient recall
- Shown to work in chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting
- Used in acute alcohol withdrawal
- SL, orally, IV
Temazepam
Benzodiazepine
- Antianxiety, hypnotic sedative
- This drug calms the neurotransmitters down
- High-dose sedation and hypnosis
- A low dose is for sleep
,- Gaba Agonist
- Reduces excitability and inhibits the SNS
Donepezil (Aricept)
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
- Helps to maintain the acetylcholine levels in the brain -
enhancing memory
- Effects of this medication are temporary
- Slows the progression of Alzheimer's Disease
- Side Effects: N/V/D, Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, weakness,
insomnia
- Teach patients to keep followup appointments with MD,
medication only is for temporary medication recall
Memantine (Namenda)
NMDA Receptor Antagonist
- NMDA receptors are known to cause memory issues, this drug
slows it down
- Treats early onset of Alzheimer's Disease
slows build up of plaques on axons
- can be mixed with food
- Extended-release capsule was approved for the treatment of
Alzheimer's Disease. It contains both medications in one
capsule. It is once-a-day dosing.
- 5-10 mg
- N/V/D, Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, insomnia
- Blood clots, bleeding, constipation
- 70-hour half life
carisoprodol (Soma)
, Muscle Relaxant: inhibits activity between neurons to help
reduce transmission of pain impulse
baclofen
Muscle Relaxant: decreases transmission of impulses from
spinal cord toskeletal muscles (thought to restrict movement of
calcium inside the nerve cells)
dantrolene
Muscle Relaxant: alters release of calcium from
sarcoplasmicreticulum which relaxes skeletal muscles
cyclobenzaprine
Muscle relaxant: thought to depress brainstem and spinal
cordaction which reduces motor activity
Muscle Relaxants
Indication: relief of painful muscle spasms
Sleep Aids
- Benzodiazepines
- Non-benzodiazepine Sedative-Hypnotic Agents, also known as
"pseudo-benzodiazepines"
Adverse Effects:
- Severe allergic reaction
- Severe facial swelling
- REQUIRED Warning Label: Complex sleep behaviors
(Somnambulism, bruxism, insomnias, etc.)
Solutions
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Antidepressants, blocks reuptakes of serotonin receptors
- No cardiovascular or anticholinergic side effects
- Takes 2-4 weeks to see full effects
- Used to treat OCD, eating disorders, bipolar, panic disorders,
autism
Side effects: Restlessness, sedation, suicidal ideations
Imipramine
Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Produce antidepressant and tranquilizing effects
- Elevate mood, improve appetite and increase alertness in 2-4
weeks
- Very effective agents, but they are also associatedwith serious
sideeffects, so patients must be monitored closely while taking
these medications
- smoking can cause decreased effect of medication
Phenelzine (Nardil)
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Highly effective antidepressants
- Potential to cause hypersenitive reaction when taken when a
substance called tyramine
- Side effects: ortho, dizziness heacache, blurred vision
,Lithium Carbonate
Mood Stabilizing Agents
- Used to treat acute mania and maintenance of recurrent manic
attacked
- Baseline liver and renal function tests need to be taken
Therapeuticlevels are required because of small therapeuticindex
- Side effects: Increased thirst, increased urination, N/V,
abdominal cramping
Diazepam (Valium)
Benzodiazepam
- Used for anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, seizures, sedation and
myalgia/muscle spasms
- oral, rectal, IV
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Benzodiazepam
- Used for anxiety disorders and for short-term relief of anxiety
- Used as a preoperative sedative and to diminish patient recall
- Shown to work in chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting
- Used in acute alcohol withdrawal
- SL, orally, IV
Temazepam
Benzodiazepine
- Antianxiety, hypnotic sedative
- This drug calms the neurotransmitters down
- High-dose sedation and hypnosis
- A low dose is for sleep
,- Gaba Agonist
- Reduces excitability and inhibits the SNS
Donepezil (Aricept)
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
- Helps to maintain the acetylcholine levels in the brain -
enhancing memory
- Effects of this medication are temporary
- Slows the progression of Alzheimer's Disease
- Side Effects: N/V/D, Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, weakness,
insomnia
- Teach patients to keep followup appointments with MD,
medication only is for temporary medication recall
Memantine (Namenda)
NMDA Receptor Antagonist
- NMDA receptors are known to cause memory issues, this drug
slows it down
- Treats early onset of Alzheimer's Disease
slows build up of plaques on axons
- can be mixed with food
- Extended-release capsule was approved for the treatment of
Alzheimer's Disease. It contains both medications in one
capsule. It is once-a-day dosing.
- 5-10 mg
- N/V/D, Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, insomnia
- Blood clots, bleeding, constipation
- 70-hour half life
carisoprodol (Soma)
, Muscle Relaxant: inhibits activity between neurons to help
reduce transmission of pain impulse
baclofen
Muscle Relaxant: decreases transmission of impulses from
spinal cord toskeletal muscles (thought to restrict movement of
calcium inside the nerve cells)
dantrolene
Muscle Relaxant: alters release of calcium from
sarcoplasmicreticulum which relaxes skeletal muscles
cyclobenzaprine
Muscle relaxant: thought to depress brainstem and spinal
cordaction which reduces motor activity
Muscle Relaxants
Indication: relief of painful muscle spasms
Sleep Aids
- Benzodiazepines
- Non-benzodiazepine Sedative-Hypnotic Agents, also known as
"pseudo-benzodiazepines"
Adverse Effects:
- Severe allergic reaction
- Severe facial swelling
- REQUIRED Warning Label: Complex sleep behaviors
(Somnambulism, bruxism, insomnias, etc.)
