A. PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS
1. Psychiatric drugs are preferably given after meal except minor tranquilizers (anxiolytics).
2. Haloperidol is commonly given for psychotic patients.
3. Extrapyramidal Syndrome (EPS) is commonly caused by Haloperidol.
4. Cogentin and Benadryl are drugs usually administered to decrease symptoms of EPS.
5. Clozaril causes Agranulocytosis and Leukopenia.
6. Diazepam (valium) is commonly prescribed for individuals with anxiety disorder.
7. Sedation is a common effect of diazepam (valium) thus, safety should be prioritized.
8. Paxil and Zoloft are antidepressants under the category of Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) that can cause
Sexual Dysfunction.
9. Tofranil and Elavil are commonly prescribed for depressed clients under the category of Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA’s).
10. Hypotension and Urinary retention are anticholinergic side effects of TCA’s.
11. MAOI’s (Parnate, Nardil, Marplan) should not be given along with Tyramine rich foods e.g. Avocado, Banana, Cheese
(except cream and cottage), and Soy sauce (hint: usually processed and fermented foods contain tyramine).
12. Sedation is an expected effect of antidepressants.
13. Energizing the patient to commit suicide is a paradoxical effect of antidepressants therefore suicidal precaution should
be instituted.
14. Levodopa is the drug of choice for patients with Parkinson’s disease
15. Drowsiness and hypotension are side effects of L-dopa.
16. Dilantin is usually administered for patients with grand mal seizure (tonic-clonic).
17. Gingival hyperplasia is associated with Dilantin use. Meticulous oral care is required.
18. Tapering the drug is strongly required if an anticonvulsant is withdrawn to avoid status epilepticus (this is due to abrupt
withdrawal of the drug).
19. Diazepam (valium) is commonly administered to combat status epilepticus.
20. Bone marrow depression and Steven-Johnson’s Syndrome (severe pruritus and blood-shot eyes) are worst effects of
anticonvulsants.
21. Lithium carbonate is the drug of choice for manic patients.
22. Tegretol could also be given for bipolar manic client due to its mood stabilizing effect.
23. 3gms of Sodium and 3L of fluids per day are recommended for patients under lithium therapy.
24. Nausea and Vomiting are early signs of lithium toxicity.
25. Mannitol and Diamox are antidotes used to lower the toxicity (lithium).
26. Cognex and Aricept are drugs used to treat Dementia. These drugs increases liver enzymes, therefore liver function test is
required (ALT/AST).
27. Ritalin and Dexedrine are drugs commonly prescribed for children with ADHD. Insomnia and Anorexia are side effects of
these drugs. Growth suppression is the worst effect.
B. PERSONALITY THEORIES
1. Commonly asked Developmental milestones in the board exam according to Erickson:
a. trust vs. mistrust (0-1 or Infancy).
b. initiative vs. guilt (3-6 or Preschooler).
c. identity vs. role confusion (12-19 or Adolescence).
d. intimacy vs. isolation (20-40 or Young Adult).
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d. Silahis behavior (bisexuality) is associated with the absence of a “father figure” and is only resolved in
latency stage when the child identifies the parent of the same sex.
C. SCHIZOPHRENIA
1. Increased dopamine level is the main problem in patients with Schizophrenia.
2. Hallucination and Delusion are positive signs of schizophrenia.
3. Safety (self and others) and offering Sealed Foods are main nursing interventions to Paranoid Schizophrenic patients.
4. Major Tranquilizers (Haldol, Thorazine, Clozaril) are drug of choice for schizophrenics.
5. Altered thought process is the priority nursing diagnosis.
J. CRISES INTERVENTIONS
1. Safety and Reporting of cases within 48 hours to authorities are highest in priority for child abuse case (Brgy.
Captain, Police Station, DSWD, Bantay Bata).
2. Provide shelter for battered wives.
3. Gather evidence (no bathing nor changing of clothes) for a suspected rape case for legal purposes.
4. Ineffective individual coping is the priority nursing diagnosis for victims of abuses.