Psychiatric Medications and Monitoring
Psychiatric medications require careful monitoring for effectiveness and serious adverse effects. Nurses support adherence and patient safety.
Practice Psychiatric Medications with PassMate AI →Key Points to Know
What you must know about Psychiatric Medications
Typical antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol) commonly cause extrapyramidal side effects (EPS).
Watch for acute dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia with antipsychotics.
Lithium requires regular blood level monitoring due to its narrow therapeutic range.
Advise adequate fluid and salt intake with lithium to prevent toxicity.
SSRIs may cause serotonin syndrome, especially when combined with other serotonergic drugs.
Emphasise adherence — stopping medication abruptly can trigger relapse.
NMCN Exam Tips
How this topic appears in the NMCN exam
EPS is the hallmark antipsychotic side effect to monitor.
Lithium levels must be monitored (narrow therapeutic index).
Antidepressants take weeks to work — continue and monitor.
Never stop psychiatric drugs abruptly (relapse/withdrawal risk).
Practice Question
Test yourself
A patient on haloperidol develops muscle rigidity, tremors, and a shuffling gait. The nurse recognises these as:
Explanation
Muscle rigidity, tremors, and a shuffling gait are extrapyramidal side effects (drug-induced parkinsonism) commonly caused by typical antipsychotics such as haloperidol. The nurse should report these and anticipate management (e.g., anticholinergic medication).
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