A client who has been taking lithium carbonate 300 mg tid comes ...

[LaDunn]

A client who has been taking lithium carbonate 300 mg tid comes to the Outpatient Department with a list of medications he is taking. Which of the medications on the list would require reevaluation of lithium dosage?
 
  1. HydroDIURIL daily
  2. Navane bid
  3. Ativan at bedtime
  4. Cefobid daily

Question 2

A client asks the nurse, My doctor told me he thinks I have dysthymia. Can you explain that to me? The nurse will base the reply on knowledge that dysthymia:
 
  1. Typically has an acute onset
  2. Involves delusional thinking
  3. Is chronic low-level depression
  4. Does not include suicidal ideation

[LVPMS]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: 1
Diuretics alter fluid and electrolyte balance, increasing risk for lithium toxicity; therefore option 1 is correct. Antipsychotic medications are frequently prescribed concurrently with lithium to manage acute symptoms of mania, so no reevaluation of lithium dose is necessary for option 2. Antianxiety drugs are not contraindicated with concurrent lithium use, so no lithium dose reevaluation is necessary for option 3. Antibiotics do not alter fluid and electrolyte balance, so readjustment of lithium dosage is not required for option 4.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: 3
Dysthymia is identified as a chronic low-level depression frequently lasting over a period of sev-eral years without remitting. 1. Dysthymia has a slow, insidious onset. 2. Delusional thinking is not a common manifestation of dysthymia. 4. Suicidal thoughts are seen among dysthymic cli-ents.

[LaDunn]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[dyrone]

TYSM