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Study Tools
MAO Inhibitors (Mnemonic)
SSRI’s (Mnemonic)
Anticholinergics – Side Effects (Mnemonic)
Antidepressant Cheat Sheet (Cheat Sheet)
140 Must Know Meds (Book)
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) Overview (Picmonic)
Fluoxetine (Prozac) (Picmonic)
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Outline
Overview
- Antidepressant medications work on different neurotransmitters in the brain to improve mood.
- The fewer neurotransmitters it works on, the safer it is.
- These are listed in safest/first-line, to more aggressive.
Nursing Points
General
- 2-4 weeks to therapeutic levels
- Taper down, don’t stop abruptly.
- Many drug-drug interactions.
- ↑ risk for suicide due to ↑ energy/motivation they didn’t have before
- MD may change drug if intolerable side effects occur
- Caution:
- Avoid alcohol
- They shouldn’t drive until they know how the med affects them;
- Watch for sedative effects
- With long term use, monitor liver and kidney function
- Therapy is recommended in conjunction with antidepressant usage
Nursing Considerations
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s)
-
- Limits the reabsorption of serotonin, therefore increasing levels
- Side effects:
- Weight loss/gain
- Decreased libido
- Dizziness
- Photosensitivity
- Serotonin Syndrome / Serotonin Toxicity: excess levels of serotonin, typically caused by drug interactions (i.e. SSRI’s given with MAOI’s).
- Rapid onset
- Tachycardia
- Diaphoresis
- Shivering
- Overactive reflexes
- Myoclonus (intermittent jerking/twitching)
- Severe → Hallucinations, coma, hyperthermia, and death if not addressed.
- Treatment
- Serotonin antagonists
- Symptom management
- Discontinuation Syndrome:
- GI upset
- Sleep disturbance
- Loss of balance
- Sensory disturbances
- Nausea
- Flu-like symptoms
- These will quickly resolve if med is restarted.
-
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA’s)
-
- Limits reabsorption of serotonin AND norepinephrine, therefore increasing the levels
- Sedative effect
- Caution with other meds with sedative effect (i.e. antihistamines)
- Best given at night.
- Cardiac effects
- Arrhythmias – Get an EKG prior to initiation and routinely during therapy.
- Anticholinergic effects: The 4 Can’ts
- Can’t pee (difficulty voiding)
- Assess voiding patterns
- Watch for retention
- Can’t see (blurred vision)
- Can’t spit (dry mouth)
- Encourage use of hard candies
- Mouthwashes
- Good oral hygiene
- Can’t sh*t (slowed gastric motility)
- Assess bowel sounds and pattern
- Can’t pee (difficulty voiding)
- Priorities with Overdose:
- Maintain airway
- Give supplemental O2
- Get a full set of vitals
- Check an EKG
- Administer a cholinesterase inhibitor (Physostigmine)
- Administer cardiac meds (Metoprolol, Labetalol, Cardizem, etc.)
- Seizure precautions
- Lowers the patient’s threshold for seizures
-
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s)
-
- Work by inhibiting the entire monoamine oxidase family:
- Serotonin
- Melatonin
- Epinephrine
- Norepinephrine
- Dopamine
- Tyramine
- Last Resort option
- MANY drug-drug interactions
- Opioids – coma, hypo/hypertension, seizures
- Vasoconstrictors, nasal decongestants, dopamine, other antidepressants, amphetamines, or tyramine-containing foods – Hypertensive Crisis
- Antidote for hypertensive crisis is IV Phentolamine
- BP monitoring essential
- Strict compliance is essential
- Should wear an alert bracelet
- 3+ weeks to therapeutic effects
- Must taper down to discontinue
- Avoid tyramine-containing foods (cured or fermented foods most often) due to risk for Hypertensive Crisis or arrhythmias
- Vegetables – Avocadoes, Eggplant, Sauerkraut, Beans
- Alcohol: beer, red wine, sherry
- Fruits – Bananas, Raisins, Overripe fruits
- Anything with caffeine
- Meats – Beef, Chicken liver, Sausage, Bologna, Pepperoni, Salami
- Dairy – Cheese, particularly aged, Sour cream, Yogurt
- Soy sauce
- Work by inhibiting the entire monoamine oxidase family:
-
Patient Education
- Foods and activities to avoid when taking these meds
- Do not stop taking abruptly, discuss with provider
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