PHarm test 2

What is the class of buspirone (BuSpar)?

Atypical anxiolytic.

What is buspirone (BuSpar) used for?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

What are common side effects of buspirone?

Dizziness, nausea, headache, lightheadedness, agitation, constipation.

What are important contrsdictions for buspirone?

Use caution with liver or kidney impairment; avoid MAOIs due to risk of increased blood pressure.

What is the class of carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet)?

Antiparkinsonian; dopaminergic medication.

What are the generic and brand names of Sinemet?

Generic: carbidopa/levodopa; Brand: Sinemet.

What is carbidopa/levodopa used for?

Parkinson’s disease; helps with tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement.

How does carbidopa/levodopa work?

levodopa crosses the blood-brain barrier and becomes dopamine; carbidopa slows levodopa breakdown.

What are side effects of carbidopa/levodopa?

• Nausea and vomiting

• Dizziness / low blood pressure when standing

• Involuntary movements (dyskinesia)

• Confusion or hallucinations

• Dark urine or sweat

What are important contradictions for carbidopa/levodopa?

patients with a known hypersensitivity to the drug, those currently taking nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, and patients with narrow-angle glaucoma

What is the class of sumatriptan (Imitrex)?

vascular headache suppressants; Serotonin agonist; triptan.

What is sumatriptan used for?

Treats a migraine that is already happening; it does not prevent migraines.

How does sumatriptan work?

Promotes vasoconstriction of blood vessels in large intracranial arteries

What are side effects of sumatriptan?

Chest pressure or pain, tingling, vertigo.

What are important contraindications for sumatriptan?

Avoid with coronary artery disease (CAD) or history of myocardial infarction (MI).

What is the class of diazepam (Valium)?

Benzodiazepine; CNS depressant, antianxiety

What are the generic and brand names of Valium?

Generic: diazepam; Brand: Valium.

What is diazepam used for?

Anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, and as an anesthesia adjunct.

How does diazepam work?

Depresses CNS, Enhances GABA, producing a calming effect.

What are side effects of diazepam?

drowsiness, fatigue, and muscle weakness

What are serious effects of diazepam toxicity?

Respiratory depression, hypotension, and cardiorespiratory arrest.

What are important precautions for diazepam?

Avoid combining with alcohol, opioids, or other CNS depressants; use caution with respiratory disease.

What is the class of the nicotine patch?

therapeutic; Nicotine replacement therapy.

What is the nicotine patch used for?

Helps replace nicotine while stopping smoking or chewing tobacco ; nicotine withdrawl

How should the nicotine patch be applied?

Apply to clean, dry skin; remove the old patch and rotate application sites.

What are important nicotine patch teaching points?

Avoid other nicotine products; remove before an MRI; stop and report skin irritation.

What are important precautions for nicotine replacement?

Avoid during pregnancy or breastfeeding unless directed by a healthcare provider; use caution with cardiovascular disease.

side effects of nicotine patch

tachycardia, chestpain, skin burning, rash, sweating, diarrrhea, muscle aches, abnormal dreams

What is the class of amitriptyline (Elavil)?

Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA).

What are the generic and brand names of Elavil?

Generic: amitriptyline; Brand: Elavil.

What is amitriptyline used for?

Depression; also neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, and bedwetting

How does amitriptyline work?

Blocks reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in the CNS, increasing their effects.

What are side effects of amitriptyline?

Orthostatic hypotension, anticholinergic effects, and sedation, increased suicide risk

What are important contraindications or precautions for amitriptyline?

Use caution with heart problems, avoid with MAOIs, Can cause drowsiness, so use caution with activities requiring alertness.

What is the class of haloperidol (Haldol)?

Antipsychotic; butyrophenones

What are the generic and brand names of Haldol?

Generic: haloperidol; Brand: Haldol.

What is haloperidol used for?

Psychotic disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, and Tourette’s disorder.

How does haloperidol work?

Blocks dopamine in CNS and other receptors in the brain to reduce psychotic symptoms.

What are important side effects of haloperidol?

dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, sexual disfunction, blurred vision, and weight gain

What are the four major EPS associated with haloperidol?

Dystonia, parkinsonism, akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia.

What are important contraindications for haloperidol?

Contraindicated with coma, severe depression, Parkinson’s disease, severe hypotension, dementia. Cautious use with heart disorders, seizure disorders, liver/kidney disease.

What is the class of carbamazepine (Tegretol)?

Anticonvulsant; mood stabilizer.

What are the generic and brand names of Tegretol?

Generic: carbamazepine; Brand: Tegretol.

What is carbamazepine used for?

Seizures, bipolar disorder, and reducing pain in trigeminal neuralgia.

How does carbamazepine work?

Decreases burst firing by reducing sodium influx through sodium channels.

What are important side effects of carbamazepine?

• Drowsiness and dizziness

• Nausea and vomiting

• Low sodium levels

• Serious skin rash

• Low blood cell counts

What should the nurse monitor with carbamazepine?

WBCs and signs of infection; maintain therapeutic blood levels.

What are important precautions for carbamazepine?

Use caution with bone marrow problems and liver disease; report signs of infection.

What is the class of phenelzine (Nardil)?

antidepressent;Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).

What are the generic and brand names of Nardil?

Generic: phenelzine; Brand: Nardil.

What is phenelzine used for?

Depression; may also be used for bulimia. Usually for people who do not respond well to other kinds of therapy.

How does phenelzine work?

Blocks MAO, increasing norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.

What are important side effects of phenelzine?

CNS stimulation, orthostatic hypotension, hypertensive crisis.

What foods should be avoided with phenelzine?

Tyramine-rich foods, such as aged cheeses and cured or fermented foods, because of hypertensive-crisis risk.

What are important contraindications or interactions for phenelzine?

• Do not combine with other antidepressants, especially SSRIs, SNRIs, or TCAs, due to risk of serotonin syndrome.

• Tyramine-rich foods: Avoid aged cheeses, cured meats, and other high-tyramine foods due to risk of hypertensive crisis.

What is the class of valproic acid (Depakote)?

Anticonvulsant; mood stabilizer.

What are the generic and brand names of Depakote?

Generic: valproic acid/divalproex; Brand: Depakote.

What is valproic acid used for?

Seizures, bipolar disorder, and migraine prevention.

How does valproic acid work?

Slows burst firing, inhibits sodium channels and glutamate, and increases GABA.

What are side effects of valproic acid?

• Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain

• Drowsiness and dizziness

• Weight gain

• Hair loss

• Liver damage

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

What should the nurse monitor with valproic acid?

Valproic acid levels, liver enzymes, and platelet count.

What are important contraindications for valproic acid?

• Liver disease

• Urea cycle disorders

• Certain mitochondrial disorders (POLG-related)

• Significant fetal risk.

What is the class of paroxetine (Paxil)?

antianxiety, antidepressent, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

What are the generic and brand names of Paxil?

Generic: paroxetine; Brand: Paxil.

What is paroxetine used for?

Depression, GAD, panic disorder, OCD, social anxiety, and PTSD.

How does paroxetine work?

Inhibits serotonin reuptake, leaving more serotonin at the synapse.

What are side effects of paroxetine?

• Nausea, sweating, tremors, fatigue, drowsiness

• Sexual dysfunction, weight gain

• GI bleeding, hyponatremia

• Teeth grinding

• Serotonin syndrome and withdrawal syndrome

What are important serious risks of paroxetine?

Serotonin syndrome, GI bleeding, and withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.

What are important contraindications or interactions for paroxetine?

Avoid with MAOIs; use caution with liver or kidney impairment, seizure disorders, and GI bleeding risk. may increase risk of suicide

What is the class of lithium (Lithobid)?

Mood stabilizer.

What are the generic and brand names of Lithobid?

Generic: lithium carbonate; Brand: Lithobid.

What is lithium used for?

Bipolar disorder; helps manage manic episodes and prevent relapse.

What are common side effects of lithium?

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

• Hand tremors

• Increased thirst and urination

• Weight gain

• Drowsiness

• Hypothyroidism

What are signs of lithium toxicity?

Coarse tremors, vomiting or diarrhea, confusion, and poor coordination.

What should the nurse monitor with lithium?

Lithium blood levels, kidney function, thyroid function, and fluid/sodium balance.

What are important precautions for lithium?

Maintain consistent salt and fluid intake; use caution with kidney disease and dehydration.

What is the class of interferon beta-1?

Immunomodulator; disease-modifying therapy.

What are the generic and brand names of interferon beta-1?

Generic: interferon beta-1; Brands include Avonex, Rebif, and Betaseron.

What is interferon beta-1 used for?

Multiple sclerosis (MS); helps reduce disease activity and relapses.

How is interferon beta-1 administered?

By IM or subcutaneous injection, depending on the product.

What are side effects of interferon beta-1?

Flu-like symptoms, bone marrow suppression, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia.

What should the nurse monitor with interferon beta-1?

Blood counts and liver function; teach signs of liver toxicity such as abdominal pain and jaundice.

What are important precautions for interferon beta-1?

Cautious use with suicidal tendencies, liver disease, alcohol abuse, seizures, thyroid disorder. Do not administer with other immunosuppressants.

What is the class of lorazepam (Ativan)?

therapuetic, antianxiety, hypnotics, Benzodiazepine; CNS depressant.

What are the generic and brand names of Ativan?

Generic: lorazepam; Brand: Ativan.

What is lorazepam used for?

Anxiety, seizures, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, and sedation.

How does lorazepam work?

Depresses CNS, Enhances GABA, producing a calming effect.

What are side effects of lorazepam?

• Drowsiness and sedation

• Dizziness

• Weakness

• Unsteadiness / impaired coordination

• Confusion

What are serious effects of lorazepam toxicity?

Respiratory depression and hypotension.

What are important precautions for lorazepam?

Avoid alcohol and other CNS depressants; do not stop abruptly.

What is the class of fluoxetine (Prozac)?

Therapeutic antidepressants: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

What are the generic and brand names of Prozac?

Generic: fluoxetine; Brand: Prozac.

What is fluoxetine used for?

Depression, GAD, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD, and other conditions depending on the prescription.

How does fluoxetine work?

Inhibits serotonin reuptake, increasing serotonin at the synapse.

What are side effects of fluoxetine?

• Nausea, Sweating, Tremors

• Fatigue and drowsiness

• Sexual dysfunction, Weight gain

• hyponatremia, bruxism, serotonin syndrome.

What are serious risks of fluoxetine?

Serotonin syndrome, GI bleeding, hyponatremia, and withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.

What are important contraindications or interactions for fluoxetine?

Avoid with MAOIs; use caution with liver or kidney problems, seizure disorders, and GI bleeding risk.

What is the class of phenytoin (Dilantin)?

Anticonvulsant.

What are the generic and brand names of Dilantin?

Generic: phenytoin; Brand: Dilantin.

What is phenytoin used for?

Seizure control.