TO PREPARE FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT:
- Select a vulnerable patient from the list provided.
- Consider age, birth-assigned sex, FDA approvals, and risk and side-effect consideration.
- Select the most appropriate medication for your selected patient based upon the information provided.
- Review the textbook for commonly prescribed antidepressants, Fast Facts for Psychopharmacology for Nurse Practitioners.
- Conduct research through the FDA websiteLinks to an external site..
- Review prescriber information for professionals of the medications.
Note: These can be located free online with web search. - Review national guidelines for prescribing for these vulnerable individuals:
THE ASSIGNMENT
Step 1: Choose one of the following vulnerable patients to create a Medication Guide for the patient:
- Patient 1: 26-year-old female with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder who is increasing in isolation and poor self-care. She is in her third trimester of pregnancy.
- Patient 2: 16-year-old male with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, severe. He has seen a therapist weekly for the past 6 months and has had minimal change in symptoms. He has expressed thoughts of wanting to die.
- Patient 3: 72-year-old male with diagnosis of major depressive disorder and panic disorder. He has cardiac history and takes antihypertensive medications.
- Patient 4: 8-year-old Asian female with a diagnosis of severe depressive disorder presents to the office with a report of worsening symptoms. She has never taken psychotropic medication before.
Step 2: Create a Medication Guide for a patient. In your guide, you should provide the following specific instructions for the patient:
- Describe the chosen classification of medications, from the classification category, for your chosen vulnerable patient. Explain your rationale for your choice.
- Explain what dose you would start the chosen medication with and the frequency.
- Discuss how the medication works to treat their symptoms.
- Explain how long they should take the medication.
- Discuss the typical or common side effects of the medication.
- Explain the urgent or emergent considerations for the patient taking the medication.
The Medication Guide should also include:
- Directions you would provide the patient on how to take the prescribed medication
- Instructions on what the patient should do if a medication dose is missed
- List of any other medications, over-the-counter medications, and/or supplements/herbals the patient should avoid while taking the prescribed medication
- List of foods the patient should avoid when taking this medication
- Date when the patient should return for follow-up visit with you
- Discussion about the legal and ethical considerations for the medication being prescribed
- Answers in consideration of Social Determinants of Health on how you would:
- Assist the patient who cannot not afford to pay financially for the medication you are recommending/prescribing; and/or
- Has difficulty with transportation that impacts their ability to present for regular appointments with you
- Discuss how financial hardship and lack of transportation could relate to Social Determinants of Health, as well as why they are important considerations for you as a prescriber.
