THE NCLEX CHANNEL

{ Pharm 4.9: Psychiatric Medications}

Session Objectives:
• Objective 1: Recall commonly prescribed psychiatric medications, including
why the medications may be prescribed.
• Objective 2: Identify contraindications and adverse effects of commonly
prescribed psychiatric medications.
• Objective 3: Identify nursing considerations relevant to commonly
prescribed psychiatric medications, including appropriate safety and
teaching considerations.

Points of Emphasis:
• Psychiatric medications affect three major neurotransmitters in the body:
Dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE).
• Antidepressants can be classified as older generation (tricyclics and
monoamine oxidase inhibitors) and new generation agents (selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitors).
• Indicators for use: Sleep changes, loss of interest, feelings of guilt, changes
in energy, cognition, and appetite, and psychomotor changes.
• Adverse effects: Flu-like symptoms (headache, nausea, stomach upset), dry
mouth, extreme sweating, sexual dysfunction, agitation, insomnia,
irritability, weight changes.
• Adverse outcomes: Discontinuation syndrome (SSRI), black box warning
(increased suicide ideation), seizures (MAOI), serotonin syndrome.
• Goal of antidepressant therapy: Decrease depressive symptoms to enable
the client to participate more effectively in other forms of treatment.

References:
Townsend, M.C. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in
evidence-based practice (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis
 THE NCLEX CHANNEL
Vallerand, A.H. & Sanoski, C.A. (2017). Davis’s drug guide for nurses (16th ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.