MH HESI Med Review

Lithium

Mood stabilizer; used for bipolar disorder; monitor blood lithium levels; sodium depletion can increase lithium retention; long-term use can affect kidney and thyroid function

Valproic acid

Anticonvulsant/mood stabilizer; used for bipolar disorder and chronic aggression

Divalproex sodium

Anticonvulsant/mood stabilizer; used for bipolar disorder; form of valproate

Lamotrigine

Anticonvulsant/mood stabilizer; used for bipolar disorder and chronic aggression; assess for rash/Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Carbamazepine

Anticonvulsant/mood stabilizer; used for bipolar disorder and chronic aggression; monitor CBC; risk for agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia

Oxcarbazepine

Anticonvulsant; listed as an additional anticonvulsant option

Gabapentin

Anticonvulsant; also has antianxiety effects

Topiramate

Anticonvulsant; used for PTSD and listed for chronic aggression

Haloperidol

First-generation/conventional antipsychotic; used for schizophrenia/positive symptoms; risk for EPS and neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Fluphenazine

First-generation/conventional antipsychotic; used for schizophrenia/positive symptoms; risk for EPS and neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Clozapine

Second-generation/atypical antipsychotic; used for schizophrenia; risk for agranulocytosis; requires CBC monitoring

Olanzapine

Second-generation/atypical antipsychotic; used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and acute/chronic aggression; sedating and often given at bedtime

Risperidone

Second-generation/atypical antipsychotic; used for schizophrenia and chronic aggression; can cause orthostatic hypotension and sedation/falls

Quetiapine

Second-generation/atypical antipsychotic; used for schizophrenia and chronic aggression; useful for poor sleep; can cause orthostatic hypotension

Ziprasidone

Second-generation/atypical antipsychotic; used for schizophrenia and acute/chronic aggression

Propranolol

Antihypertensive/noradrenergic medication; lowers anxiety; often used for performance anxiety; also listed for chronic aggression

Clonidine

Antihypertensive/noradrenergic medication; lowers anxiety; used for opioid withdrawal; also listed for chronic aggression

Guanfacine

Antihypertensive; listed as an option for chronic aggression

Lorazepam

Benzodiazepine; used short-term for anxiety; used for alcohol withdrawal when CIWA is greater than 15; also used for acute aggression; risks include addiction, cognitive decline, falls and mortality

Phenobarbital

Barbiturate; used for alcohol withdrawal when benzodiazepines are ineffective

Buspar

Anxiolytic; listed as an antianxiety medication

Ambien

Sedative-hypnotic; used for sleep/insomnia

Sertraline

SSRI; used for depression/anxiety; FDA-approved for PTSD; also listed for chronic aggression

Fluoxetine

SSRI; used for depression/anxiety; listed as an off-label treatment for PTSD; also listed for chronic aggression

Paroxetine

SSRI; FDA-approved for PTSD

Citalopram

SSRI; used for depression/anxiety; also listed for chronic aggression

Escitalopram

SSRI; used for depression/anxiety; also listed for chronic aggression

Venlafaxine

SNRI; used for depression/anxiety; listed as an off-label treatment for PTSD

Amitriptyline

Tricyclic antidepressant/TCA; anticholinergic effects; can cause orthostatic hypotension, weight gain and cardiotoxicity

Trazodone

Atypical antidepressant; used when SSRIs/SNRIs do not work; also commonly used for insomnia

Bupropion

Atypical antidepressant; used when SSRIs/SNRIs do not work

Disulfiram

Medication for alcohol use disorder; causes a severe physical reaction if alcohol is consumed

Naltrexone

Opioid antagonist; used for alcohol use disorder and opioid-use treatment; decreases cravings and blocks euphoric effects

Acamprosate

Medication for alcohol use disorder; reduces unpleasant abstinence symptoms and cravings

Naloxone

Opioid antagonist; used to reverse opioid overdose; Narcan

Nalmefene

Medication for opioid-related treatment; opioid antagonist with a longer half-life than naloxone

Methadone

Long-acting opioid; used for opioid withdrawal treatment and long-term maintenance; decreases cravings and urges to relapse

Buprenorphine

Partial opioid agonist; used for opioid detoxification and long-term maintenance; less likely to result in overdose

Buprenorphine/naloxone

Combination medication for opioid-use treatment; Suboxone; used for opioid detoxification/maintenance

Donepezil

Cholinesterase inhibitor; used for Alzheimer’s disease

Rivastigmine

Cholinesterase inhibitor; used for Alzheimer’s disease

Galantamine

Cholinesterase inhibitor; used for Alzheimer’s disease

Memantine

NMDA antagonist; used for Alzheimer’s disease

Prazosin

Medication used for PTSD; helps with hypervigilance and nightmares

Bromocriptine

Medication used for mild neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Dantrolene

Medication used for severe neuroleptic malignant syndrome; given IV-apine

-idone

Study clue for second-generation antipsychotics

-opram

Study clue for SSRIs

-oxetine

Study clue for SSRIs

-triptyline

Study clue for TCAs

-dol

Study clue for first-generation antipsychotics

-pam

Study clue for benzodiazepines