Chapter 21: Antidepressant Agents

A client has been prescribed phenelzine sulfate. When providing teaching, which food should the nurse instruct the client to avoid eating?

Salami

Following a thorough health history and assessment, a client's health care provider has diagnosed the client with depression. The nurse should anticipate that the client will likely be prescribed what classification of antidepressant?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

A 12-year-old client who has been taking sertraline for the past 2 weeks has returned to the clinic to be seen. It will be critical for the nurse to assess for which?

onset of suicidal ideation.

The nurse is caring for a client taking fluoxetine for depression. Which assessment findings indicate that the medication is effective? Select all that apply.

improved sleep decreased anxiety interest in physical activity

The nurse would assess for what in a client with type 2 diabetes using an oral antidiabetic agent and receiving an MAOI?

Hypoglycemia

The nurse is assessing a 13-year-old client who has symptoms of depression and recognizes that what class of antidepressant medication would not be a drug of choice for an adolescent?

TCAs

A patient is receiving an antidepressant that helps to decrease addictive behavior. Which drug most likely would be prescribed?

Venlafaxine

A client has been taking fluoxetine (Prozac) for the last ten days. Today the client is reporting not feeling any better. What is the nurse's best response to this client?

"It may take another two to three weeks before the medication is completely effective."

A client is prescribed transdermal selegiline. What health education should the nurse provide?

"Place the patch on dry skin on your torso that has no cuts or openings."

The nurse at an outpatient mental health unit is reviewing the black box warning that applies to clients who are taking antidepressants. To which of the nurse's clients would the black box warning apply?

A 14 year-old client who has been diagnosed with major depression

A male client has a history of hepatic dysfunction secondary to alcoholism. Based on the client's diagnostic history, what would the nurse expect his health care provider to order?

A lower dose of the antidepressant

The client has been prescribed an MAO inhibitor. As the nurse teaches the client about this medication, what foods will the client be instructed to avoid?

Aged cheeses and meats, concentrated yeast extracts, sauerkraut, and fava beans

While studying for an upcoming pharmacology test, a student asks peers what drug would be more effective against depression characterized by anxiety and sleep disturbances. Which drug would the students say would be most effective?

Imipramine

A client has been taking citalopram for 2 weeks and has expressed a desire to discontinue it, stating, "I don't feel any better than I did before I started these pills." What should the nurse teach the client?

It may take up to two more weeks before the client feels better

A female client has been diagnosed with depression. She also has a history of alcoholism. She has been sober now for 4 months, but at her last physical examination, the health care provider noted right-upper-quadrant tenderness and elevated liver enzyme levels. The provider has prescribed sertraline to treat the client's depression. Which factor would need to be considered prior to administering this medication?

The medication should be started at a lower dose due to liver dysfunction, and the client should be monitored for side effects

What is the major reason that monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOs) are rarely used in clinical practice today?

They may cause dangerous interactions with some foods and drugs.

What adverse effect could be related to a fall experienced by an older client prescribed amitriptyline?

orthostatic hypotension

A client prescribed fluoxetine 1 week ago presents for a scheduled follow-up appointment. What should be the focus of the client's nursing assessment to best assure client safety?

presence of suicidal ideation

A client has recently received a diagnosis of depression and has been prescribed citalopram. The nurse is providing health education and the client states, "I'm relieved to have some medication to help with my mood, because it's my daughter's wedding next weekend and I'll be feeling better." What is the nurse's best response?

"Antidepressants will help your mood but it usually takes a few weeks to experience the benefits."

A client has been taking amitriptyline for the treatment of depression for several months. The client has been experiencing significant anticholinergic effects and has now presented to the emergency department reporting recent nausea, vomiting, dizziness and malaise. What assessment question should the nurse prioritize?

"Are you still taking your medication consistently?"

A new mother asks her nurse about the safety of taking St. John's wort for postpartum depression. What would be the nurse's best response?

"There is insufficient evidence to support the use of St. John's wort, and drug interactions may be extensive."

How long does a patient need to wait after stopping a phenelzine before starting paroxetine?

14 days

A client is receiving an SSRI. The nurse would inform the client that the full benefits of the drug may not occur for which time period?

4 weeks

Several clients are prescribed sertraline therapy on the unit. Which client would require the closest monitoring by the nurse?

A 45-year-old man with liver impairment

A community health nurse follows many clients, several of whom have depression and who are taking antidepressants. What assessment finding should the nurse prioritize for reporting to the care provider?

A client who began taking escitalopram two weeks ago says her mood has worsened since starting the drug

A group of students are reviewing information about tricyclic antidepressants and demonstrate understanding of the material when they identify which drug as also being indicated for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Clomipramine

A client prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor has begun taking St. John's wort daily. The nurse should teach the client that this combination may result in what adverse reaction?

Dangerous drug interactions

A client with a severe depression has been hospitalized, and the health care provider has ordered amitriptyline. What common adverse effect might this client have?

Dry mouth

A nurse is caring for a patient with depression. Which symptom should the nurse closely monitor for in the patient?

Extreme sadness

While reviewing the medication history of an older adult client, the nurse learns that the client is taking amitriptyline 25 mg three times per day. What adverse effect should the nurse prioritize when incorporating safety measures into the care plan?

Orthostatic hypotension

A client is to receive a tricyclic antidepressant. The nurse is reviewing the client's medical record. What would alert the nurse to a possible contraindication?

Recent myocardial infarction

A client has been taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for the treatment of depression. Which represents the action of the medication?

SSRIs prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed.

After teaching a group of nursing students about antidepressants, the instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which as inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

A client reports feelings of gloom and the inability to perform activities of daily living. The normal function of which neurotransmitter is most likely impaired?

Serotonin

A client who was previously taking paroxetine is being switched to phenelzine due to a lack of response. The nurse would expect that the phenelzine will be started at which time?

Several weeks after stopping the paroxetine

A female client has been diagnosed with depression. She also has a history of alcoholism. She has been sober now for 4 months, but at her last physical examination, the health care provider noted right-upper-quadrant tenderness and elevated liver enzyme levels. The provider has prescribed sertraline to treat the client's depression. Which factor would need to be considered prior to administering this medication?

The medication should be started at a lower dose due to liver dysfunction, and the client should be monitored for side effects.

A nurse is caring for a patient who has been prescribed a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). What should the nurse ask the patient to avoid?

Yogurt

A nurse is working with a client who is taking an MAOI. What would be the most important instruction to the client?

avoid use of soy sauce in the diet.

A 30-year-old client is taking phenelzine 30mg PO tid. The nurse knows that at that dosage, the client will need to be carefully monitored for which?

dizziness.