DRUG STUDY

Drug Name Dosage Action Indication Contraindication Side Effects Nursing

Responsibilities
Generic Name: PO (Adults): May act by Schizophrenia in Hypersensitivity; CNS: neuroleptic malignant Monitor patient’s
1 mg twice antagonising adults and Lactation: syndrome, dizziness, mental status
RISPERIDONE daily, dopamine and adolescents age discontinue drug aggressive behaviour, (orientation, mood,
increased by serotonin in the 13-17 years. or bottle feed. extrapyramidal reactions, behaviour) before and
Brand Name: 1-2 mg/day CNS Bipolar mania headache, increased dreams, periodically during
RISPERDAL no more (oral only) in increased sleep duration, therapy
frequently adults and insomnia, sedation, fatigue,
Classification: than every children 10-17 impaired dyskinesia Assess weight and BMI
Therapeutic: 24hrs to 4-8 years; can be initially and throughout
antipsychotics, mood mg daily. used with EENT: pharyngitis, rhinitis, therapy. Obtain fasting
stabilizers lithium or visual disturbances blood glucose and
Pharmacologic: valproate (adults cholesterol levels
benzisoxazoles only). Treatment RESP: cough, dyspnea initially and throughout
of irritability therapy.
PREGNANCY associated with CV: arrhythmias, orthostatic
CATEGORY C austic disorder in hypotension, tachycardia Monitor mood changes.
children age 5- Assess for suicidal
16yrs. GI: constipation, diarrhea, dry tendencies, especially
mouth, nausea, abdominal during early therapy.
pain, anorexia, dyspepsia, Restrict amount of drug
increased salivation, vomiting, available to the patient
weight gain, weight loss,
polydipsia Monitor blood pressure
(sitting, standing,
GU: decreased libido, lying), pulse, and
dysmenorrhea/menorrhagia, respiratory rate prior to
difficulty urinating, polyuria and frequently during
the period of dose
DERM: itching/skin rash, dry adjustment
skin, increased pigmentation,
increased sweating, Observe patient
photosensitivity, seborrhea
ENDO: galactorrhea,
hyperglycemia
MS: arthralgia, back pain
carefully when
administering
medication to ensure
medication is actually
taken and not hoarded.
Monitor patient for
onset of akathisia
(restlessness or desire to
keep moving) and
extrapyramidal side
effects (parkinsonian-
difficulty speaking and
swallowing, loss of
balance control, pill
rolling of hands, mask-
like face, shuffling gait,
rigidity, tremors; and
dystonic – muscle
spasm, twisting motion,
twitching, inability to
move eyes, weakness of
arms or legs)
Monitor for
development of
neuroleptic malignant
syndrome (fever,
respiratory distress,
tachycardia,
convulsions,
diaphoresis,
hypertension or
hypotension, pallor,
tiredness, severe muscle
stiffness, loss of bladder
 control), report these
symptoms immediately.

DRUG STUDY
Drug Name Dosage Action Indication Contraindication Side Effects Nursing Responsibilities
Generic Name: Initial: 1 mg Trihexyphenidyl Tihexyphenidyl ARTANE CNS:  Assess parkinsonian
Trihexyphenidyl PO first day, belongs to a class is indicated as an (trihexyphenidyl) confusion, and extrapyramidal
then increase of medication adjunct in the is contraindicated depression, symptoms (restlessness
by 2 mg q3- called treatment of in patients with dizziness, or desire to keep
Brand Name: 5days until anticholinergics parkinsonism, an hypersensitivity to hallucinations, moving, rigidity,
ARTANE reach 6-10 that work by adjuvant in the trihexyphenidyl headache, tremors, pill rolling,
mg/days blocking a treatment of HCl or to any of sedation, mask like face,
Classification: certain natural parkinsonism weakness shuffling gait, muscle
the tablet or elixir
Therapeutic: Maintenance: substance with levodopa, spasms, twisting
ingredients.
Anticholinergic 5-15 mg/day (acetylcholine). and in the EENT: blurred motions, difficulty
Antiparkinson PO divided This helps control of Artane vision, dry speaking or
agents q6-8hr decrease muscle extrapyramidal (trihexyphenidyl) eyes, mydriasis swallowing, loss of
stiffness, disorders caused is also balance control) before
sweating, and the by central contraindicated in CV: and throughout therapy
production of nervous system patients with arrhythmias, Assess bowel function daily.
saliva, and helps drugs. narrow angle hypotension, Monitor for constipation,
improve walking glaucoma. palpitations, abdominal pain, distention, or
ability in people Blindness after tachycardia absence of bowel sounds
with Parkinson's long-term use due
disease. to narrow angle GI: Monitor intake and output
glaucoma has constipation, ratios and assess patient for
been reported. dry mouth, urinary retention (dysuria,
ileus, nausea distended abdomen, infrequent
 voiding of small amounts,
GU: hesitancy, overflow incontinence)
urinary
retention Patients with mental illness are
at risk of developing
MISC: exaggerated symptoms of their
decreased disorder during early therapy
sweating with benztropine. Withhold
drug and notify physician or
other health care professional
if significant behavioural
changes occur.

IM/IV: monitor pulse and

blood pressure closely and
maintain bed rest for 1 hr after
administration. Advise patient
to change positions slowly to
minimize orthostatic
hypotension

DRUG STUDY
Drug Name Dosage Action Indication Contraindication Side Effects Nursing Responsibilities
Generic Name: PO (Adults): Blocks cholinergic Adjunctive Hypersensitivity; CNS: confusion, Assess parkinsonian and
1-2 mg / day activity in the CNS, treatment of all children <3 yrs, depression, extrapyramidal symptoms
Trihexyphenidyl in 1-2 divided which is partially forms of angle cross-closure dizziness, (restlessness or desire to
doses (range responsible for the Parkinson’s glaucoma; tardive hallucinations, keep moving, rigidity,
Brand Name: 0.5-6mg/day) symptoms of disease. Including dyskinesia headache, sedation, tremors, pill rolling, mask
Bhenzhexol Parkinson’s drug-induced weakness like face, shuffling gait,
disease. Restores extrapyramidal muscle spasms, twisting
Classification: the natural balance effects and acute EENT: blurred motions, difficulty
Therapeutic: or dystonic reactions vision, dry eyes, speaking or swallowing,
antiparkinson agents neurotransmitters mydriasis loss of balance control)
Pharmacologic: in the CNS. before and throughout
anticholionergics CV: arrhythmias, therapy
hypotension,
palpitations, Assess bowel function
tachycardia daily. Monitor for
constipation, abdominal
GI: constipation, dry pain, distention, or
mouth, ileus, nausea absence of bowel sounds

GU: hesitancy, Monitor intake and output

urinary retention ratios and assess patient
for urinary retention
MISC: decreased (dysuria, distended
sweating abdomen, infrequent
voiding of small amounts,
overflow incontinence)

Patients with mental

illness are at risk of
developing exaggerated
symptoms of their disorder
during early therapy with
benztropine. Withhold
drug and notify physician
or other health care
professional if significant
behavioural changes
occur.

IM/IV: monitor pulse and

blood pressure closely and
maintain bed rest for 1 hr
after administration.
Advise patient to change
positions slowly to
minimize orthostatic
hypotension