Antipsychotics
TERMS
□ chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
□ clozapine (Clozaril)
□ lithium (Eskalith)
QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD
The antipsychotic drugs are used to treat diseases that interfere with thought processes. They are also called neuroleptic agents due to their neurological side effects and at one time were referred to as major tranquilizers. This group of drugs is divided into two other categories: the typical and atypical antipsychotics. The typical antipsychotics have been used for the past 50 years and were considered to be the principal drug treatment for schizophrenia. The atypical antipsychotics are newer drugs and have a low incidence of extrapyramidal effects when compared to the older drugs. A third drug that will be discussed in this chapter is lithium (Eskalith), which is a mood stabilizer, and is used to treat the mood swings in bipolar disorder.
Table 22-1 Antipsychotics | ||||||||||||
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ANTIPSYCHOTICS CLIENT TEACHINGTypical Antipsychotics
Do not get liquid drug on your skin. If that happens, flush skin with lots of water.
Take drug exactly as ordered.
Report symptoms of tremors, restlessness, or facial muscle spasms to physician.
Move slowly after taking drug to avoid orthostatic hypotension.
No activities requiring concentration until drug reaction is known
Report sexual problems to physician.
Stay out of sun and use sunscreen if you have to be outdoors.
Report fever or sore throat to physician.
No OTC drugs until checking with physician
Do not drink alcohol.
Urine may discolor to pink to reddish-brown.
Do not stop taking drug until speaking with physician.
Do not get liquid drug on your skin. If that happens, flush skin with lots of water.
Report symptoms of tremors, restlessness, or facial muscle spasms to physician.
Move slowly after taking drug to avoid orthostatic hypotension.
No activities requiring concentration until drug reaction is known
Do not drink alcohol.
Urine may discolor to pink to reddish-brown.Atypical Antipsychotics
Must have weekly blood work done to check WBC.
Report fever or sore throat to physician.
No activities requiring concentration until reaction to drug is known
Move slowly after receiving drug to avoid orthostatic hypotension.
No OTC drugs until checking with physician
Do not breast-feed.
Drug should be taken as ordered.
Report fever or sore throat to physician.Mood Stabilizer
No activities requiring concentration until reaction to drug is known
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