Reflections – Week 4

The focus of my fourth week was dedicated to knowing the medication used in the ward.

I had a very fruitful discussion with my mentors discussing the drugs, indications, side effects and the regular lab test used in monitoring.

  1. Mood stabilizers:

-Fluoxetine, Seronil 5mg-20mg

-Escitalopram, Cipralex 2.5mg-20mg

-Citalopram, Cipramil, Sepram 10-40mg

Indications:

Indication for the prescription and use of the drugs above includes depression, anxiety, panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mutism (anxiety).

It is also very important to monitor the following blood tests before and after a patient is prescribed and administered the above drugs. CBC, ALT, EKG (not every time)

-liver metabolism, rarely QT interval, may increase bleeding risk

Common side effects:

Headache, restlessness, generally not sedating, exacerbation of suicidal thoughts (warning), (sexual effects)

Interactions:

Fluoxetine enhances the effectiveness of risperidone.

2. Antipsychotics:

Risperidone; Risperdal, Risperidone 0.25mg-2mg

Aripiprazole, Abilify 2.5mg-15mg

-olanzapine, Zyprexa 2.5-25mg

Quetiapine, Ketipinor 12.5mg-300mg?

Test to monitor includes the following: CBC, lipids, sugar, EKG

Common side effects:

Sedating, especially olanzapine and risperidone

Weight gain with olanzapine, risperidone; less with quetiapine and abilify

fat/sugar metabolism disorders; least with aripiprazole

Stiffness

Disorganization

Emotional blunting

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) MEDICATION:

ADHD medication is usually considered after a confirmed diagnosis by a qualified mental healthcare professionals. This often involves a thorough evaluation including interviews, questionnaires, and sometimes psychological testing.

Usually, ADHD symptoms include the following;

inattention (6 symptoms)

hyperactivity (3 symptoms), and impulsivity (3 symptoms),

Methylphenidates:

Medikinet : 5mg; duration of action 4 hours

Medikinet CR : 10mg-40mg

Equasym retard :10mg-60mg

Concerta :18mg, 27mg, 36mg, 54mg; duration of action 12 hours

Test to monitor when administering Methylphenidates:

Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: Regularly check blood pressure and heart rate to monitor for hypertension and tachycardia. These should be measured at baseline (before starting medication), shortly after starting, and periodically during treatment.

Electrocardiogram (ECG): Obtaining an ECG before starting treatment in individuals with a history of heart disease, a family history of sudden death, or symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular disease.

Height and Weight:Regularly track height and weight to monitor for potential growth suppression. This should be done at baseline and at regular intervals

Common Side Effects

Appetite Suppression: Leading to weight loss, particularly in children.

Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Headache: Mild to moderate headaches.

Stomach Pain: Gastrointestinal discomfort, often mild.

Dry Mouth: Feeling of dryness in the mouth.

Nausea: Sometimes accompanied by vomiting.

Increased Heart Rate: Tachycardia.

Increased Blood Pressure: Hypertension.

Other medications for ADHD include the following:

Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse ): 20mg, 30mg, 50mg, 60mg, 70mg; duration of action 10

hours.

Atomoxetine (Strattera ):10mg, 18mg, 25mg, 40mg, 60mg, 80mg, 100mg

Guanfacine (Intuniv): 1-3mg; continuous effect

Side Effects:

Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Decreased appetite: A loss of appetite, which can lead to weight loss.

Dry mouth: Feeling thirsty or having a dry sensation in the mouth.

Headache: Mild to moderate headaches are reported by some users.

Nausea: Feeling sick to your stomach or experiencing stomach discomfort.

Anxiety or nervousness: Increased feelings of anxiety or nervousness.

Irritability: Feeling easily annoyed or agitated.

Increased heart rate or blood pressure: Stimulant medications like lisdexamfetamine can elevate heart rate and blood pressure.

It has being a very good week, all thanks to my mentors for their cooperation. I also hope the last week will present more learning opportunities. I am hoping to further learn more of medication and also learn from up coming family day.

70 thoughts on “Reflections – Week 4”

  1. Arja-Sisko

    Your reflection is commendable. You have detailed the knowledge you gained during your internship with accuracy. For instance, your familiarity with the unit’s most commonly used medications is evident. The blog has been approved.

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