Psychotropic (Mental Health) Medications
Psychotropic drugs include antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilisers, and anxiolytics. Nurses monitor for specific serious effects such as EPS and lithium toxicity.
Practice Mental Health Meds with PassMate AI →Key Points to Know
What you must know about Mental Health Meds
Antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, chlorpromazine) can cause extrapyramidal side effects (EPS).
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (high fever, rigidity, altered consciousness) is a medical emergency.
Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range; monitor levels and watch for toxicity.
Maintain adequate salt and fluid intake with lithium — dehydration raises lithium levels.
SSRIs (e.g., fluoxetine) are common antidepressants; watch for serotonin syndrome.
Antidepressants may take 2–4 weeks to reach full effect — important for patient teaching.
NMCN Exam Tips
How this topic appears in the NMCN exam
EPS (tremor, rigidity, dystonia) is the classic antipsychotic side effect.
Lithium toxicity signs: nausea, diarrhoea, tremor, confusion — hold and report.
Antidepressants take weeks to work; reassure and monitor suicide risk early.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome = emergency (fever + rigidity).
Practice Question
Test yourself
A patient on lithium therapy presents with coarse tremors, vomiting, diarrhoea, and confusion. The nurse should suspect:
Explanation
These are classic signs of lithium toxicity. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range, and the nurse should withhold the drug, check the lithium level, and notify the physician. Dehydration and low sodium increase toxicity risk.
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