RNSG 1538 - Human Development: Drugs to Treat ADHD and Menopause. Questions and Answers.
A healthcare professional is talking to a patient and her
... [Show More] family about how methylphenidate (Ritalin) will help manage attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Which of the following therapeutic effects should they expect?
Decreased anxiety Reduced panic Increased focus
Rational: Stimulants, such as methylphenidate, regulate levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain to produced calmness, decrease hyperactivity, and increase focus.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) reduce panic. Antidepressants such as SSRI’s, Tricyclics (TCA’s), and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s) improve mood. Mood stabilizers such as lithium work to improve and stabilize mood. Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam (Ativan) provide short term treatment of anxiety.
Improved mood
Question 2
You are instructing a school-age child and his parent about the use of amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall) to manage the child’s attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder. You should tell the child and parent to watch for which of the following? Select All That Apply.
Hallucination Weight loss
Rationale: Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine can lead to weight loss. Patients should take the drug right before meals and maintain healthy eating habits. Amphetamine-
dextroamphetamine can also cause insomnia and restlessness so should be taking in the morning. It can also cause paranoid psychosis so patients should report hallucinations, delusions, or changes in mood. Orthostatic hypotension and flu-like symptoms are not associated with amphetamine-dextroamphetamine. Risperidone is an antipsychotic that causes orthostatic hypotension. Atomoxetine (Strattera) may cause liver injury, so patients should report signs of liver injury such as flu-like symptoms, yellowing skin, and abdominal pain.
Insomnia
Orthostatic hypotension Flu-like symptoms [Show Less]