psych meds

rn/writer, RN · Mar 13, 2006

I am studying psych and having hard time with meds and categories and what they are used for. Any advice on this please help.

If you don't have a nursing drug/med book, get your hands on a recent copy. Most of them have explanations of different categories of meds and you will find those used for psych (anxyolitics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.) explained there.

Any good psych textbook should list the basic types of meds.

You can also google such terms as antidepressant.

Where you might run into a challenge is what is called off-label usage. That is where a drug which has been FDA approved for one type of problem has been found to produce good effects and is often prescribed for another diagnosis entirely. An example is Depakote (valproic acid), which intially was used to prevent seizures and was found to help level out mood swings.

Look in your textbook for the types of meds. Use the med book to find that classification and the names (generic and brand) of specific meds. Then you can go about listing all the particulars--what it's used for, how it works, potential side effects, medical considerations, possible interactions, etc.

Hope this helps.

docpsychrn · Mar 14, 2006

the nursing drug handbook is your best source for information about psych meds, their uses, dosages, nursing care required etc. you can even get the 2005 edition for free from your local doctor's offices or hospitals because the 2006 issue should already be out. also go onto the internet and type in " psychotropic medications " and this will bring up quite a few that are typically used. remember, today doctors are using generic names instead of the trade name and this can be confusing. but once you learn them it is so easy to go back and forth between the generic and trade name. oh and one more thing, some meds are used for medical as well as psych and after enough exposure to these meds you will know what i am talking about such as:

clonodine: blood pressure and also impulse control disorders

tegretol: seizures as well as mood disorders

valporic acid: seizures and mood disorders

elavil: pain and depression

vistaril: pain and anti-anxiety

so on and so on. if you need any other tid bits of info just let me know and i will try to help you in any way that i can.