A patient has been resistant to treatment with antidepressant ...

[Diane]

A patient has been resistant to treatment with antidepressant therapy. The care provider prescribes a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medication. What teaching is critical for the nurse to give the patient?
 
  a. Serum blood levels must be regularly monitored to assess for toxicity.
  b. To prevent side effects, the medication should be administered as an intramuscular injection.
  c. Eating foods such as blue cheese or red wine will cause side effects.
  d. This medication class may only be used safely for a few days at a time.

Question 2

A patient has been prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. After taking the new medication, the patient states, This medication isn't working. I don't feel any different. What is the best response by the nurse?
 
  a. I will call your care provider. Perhaps you need a different medication.
  b. Don't worry. You can try taking it at a different time of day to help it work better.
  c. It usually takes a few weeks for you to notice improvement from this medication.
  d. Your life is much better now. You will feel better soon.

[leahchrapun]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
MAOIs have serious food interactions when ingested with tyramine-containing foods such as aged or processed foods. Serum levels are routinely monitored when mood stabilizers such as lithium carbonate are prescribed. It is not necessary to administer this class intramuscularly. This medication takes several weeks to show effectiveness and should not be stopped abruptly; short-term use will not be effective.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Seeing a response to antidepressants takes 3 to 6 weeks. No change in medications is indicated at this point of treatment because there is no report of adverse effects from the medication. If nausea is present, taking the medication with food may help, but this is not reported by the patient, so a change in administration time is not needed. Telling a depressed patient that their life is better does not acknowledge their feelings.

[Diane]

Both answers were spot on, thank you once again

[leahchrapun]

Great! Please up vote