Drugs for Depression

The best way to deal with the effects of drugs for depression is to know the possible interventions that are very effective in dealing with it. Most of the time, health care providers such as nurses will give health teachings and measures to the folks prior to discharge of right after the consultation. Ideally, these measures should be carefully practiced in order for them to avoid necessary condition that is inappropriate for the illness of the patient.

Nursing Considerations

The proper way of administering and storing drugs for depression are as follows:

1. In adolescents and elderly clients, use lower initial dosage than in adults; gradually increase dose as needed. It is very important for the folks to consult the dosages to the doctor and make a note which will serve as a guide for the treatment regimen;
2. Individualize dose according to age, weight, physical and mental condition, and response to the therapy. Client’s show the largest relative improvement during the first week of treatment regimen;
3. For maintenance therapy, a single daily dosages must be administered;
4. Dose usually administered at bedtime, so any anticholinergic and or sedative effects will not affect the activities of daily living;
5. To reduce the incidence of sedation and anticholinergic effects, start taking drugs for depression in small dosages and gradually increase to desired dosage levels.

Assessment

Another important factor that a client the health care provider should perform to a patient receiving drugs for depression is to identify the following points:

1. Note the reasons for therapy, behavioral manifestations, symptoms onset, and causative factor that causes depression. Identify if the patient is receiving electroconvulsive therapy. Check if the patient is receiving hazardous combination of drugs that can interact to the effects of antidepressants;
2. Monitor the mental status of the patient. Assess for mood of dysphoria, suicidal ideation, and excessive appetite or weigh changes. Note the incidents were clients suffer from sleep disturbances, lethargy, apathy, physical hygiene, impaired thought processes or lack of response and attention;
3. List drugs that are currently prescribed and received by the patient, some may intensify depressive reactions include antihypertensive drugs, antiparkinsonism drugs, hormones, steroids, anticancer agents and antituberculosis drugs;
4. Monitor the complete blood count, renal and liver function tests of the patient. This may indicated if the patient suffers from organ toxicity and other hematologic conditions after taking drugs for depression. Record ECG, assess heart sounds (to identify heart block), note any coronary artery disorder, and evaluate neurologic functioning. Assess for tachycardia and increase in angina attacks; may precede to myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke;
5. Note for the result of eye exam, report visual changes, headaches, halos, eye pain, dilated pupils, or nausea. May need to change the dosage especially if the patient has an eye problem like glaucoma;
6. Monitor the intake and output, report for abdominal distention, urinary retention, and absence of bowel sounds (paralytic ileus);
7. Differentiate type of depression based on diagnostic features relate to reactive, major depressive, or bipolar affective disorders. Review symptoms to determine if affective, somatic, psychomotor or psychological in nature.

Interventions

Appropriate actions must be initiated to patient who suffers from adverse reaction after taking drugs for depression:

1. Note the signs and symptoms of allergic response like easy bruising, fever, rashes, urticarial and itchiness;
2. Assess for adverse reactions that involves endocrine disturbances such as increase or decrease in blood sugar level, gynecomastia (abnormal breast enlargement), testicular swelling (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). Assess for the cardiac rate to determine if the patient is suffering from tachycardia and other forms of arrhythmias that is precipitated by drugs for depression;
3. Report symptoms that are indicating for hepatic toxicity. Yellowish discoloration of the skin (jaundice) is the best sign that needs to be monitored. If the patient, suffers from this condition, it must be reported immediately to the doctor;
4. Discontinue taking antidepressants several days prior to surgery. This type of drug can adversely affect the blood pressure. Withdraw therapy in a gradual manner to avoid any withdrawal symptoms.
5. Assess for epileptic activities. The drug can precipitate occurrence of seizures to the patient.

Here are the nursing considerations in managing drugs for depression. This is to help people who should adjust to their patient suffering from depression. It is very helpful and must be instilled for proper observation and execution. It can aid the people to prevent unwanted signs and symptoms that will affect the condition of the patient.