The Assignment: 5 pages
Examine Case Study: Pharmacologic Approaches to the Treatment of Insomnia in a Younger Adult.
You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this patient. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.
At each decision point, you should evaluate all options before selecting your decision and moving throughout the exercise. Before you make your decision, make sure that you have researched each option and that you evaluate the decision that you will select. Be sure to research each option using the primary literature.
Introduction to the case (1 page)
· Briefly explain and summarize the case for this Assignment. Be sure to include the specific patient factors that may impact your decision making when prescribing medication for this patient.
Decision #1 (1 page)
· Which decision did you select?
· Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
· Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
· What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
· Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Decision #2 (1 page)
· Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
· Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
· What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
· Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Decision #3 (1 page)
· Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
· Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
· What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
· Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Conclusion (1 page)
· Summarize your recommendations on the treatment options you selected for this patient. Be sure to justify your recommendations and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
THE LINK FOR THE CASE STUDY
Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology
Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology (waldenu.edu)
https://cdn-media.waldenu.edu/2dett4d/Walden/NURS/6630/DT/week_11/1.html
GUIDANCE TO STUDENT.
· Zolpidem is a medication that has a host of negative side effects. It should not be the first choice of therapy due to these side effects.
· Trazodone is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that has a low side effect profile. It would not be prudent to prescribe sonata as it carries with it the risk of complex sleep behaviors.
· At this point, sufficient symptom reduction has been achieved. It is considered a full response to therapy when symptoms are reduced by 50% or more on the HAM-D. Do not confuse this with full symptom resolution which would be a 100% reduction in symptoms as measured on the HAM-D. It would be in the best interest of the patient to continue with the current dose of medication …
· The most appropriate course of action for you to take would be the discontinuation of Tofranil and the initiation of an SSRI, such as Paxil (paroxetine) or Zoloft (sertraline), as these are considered first-line agents for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders. Tofranil is considered a second-line agent.
· The mixture of alcohol and benzodiazepines is one that can result in respiratory depression and death. It would be prudent to discontinue any benzodiazepines your patient is on if you are aware, or even have a suspicion, that the patient consumes alcohol.