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Assignment 1: Short Answer Assessment
Student's Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course
Instructor
Due Date
This study source was downloaded by 100000849840424 from CourseHero.com on 07-25-2022 05:11:18 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/84835106/NURS-6630-Week-8-Assignment-1docx/
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Assignment 1: Short Answer Assessment
Question 1: Appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history
of alcohol abuse. Which drugs are contraindicated if any, and why? Be specific. What is
the timeframe that the patient should see a resolution of symptoms?
The optimal treatment of patients with Major Depressive Disorder requires an awareness
of their comorbid alcohol abuse history and vise versa. The optimal course of treatment for
patients diagnosed with MDD and alcohol dependence is a combination of sertraline (Zoloft) 50
mg orally day taken in the morning and naltrexone 50 mg orally daily for 12 weeks. Zoloft is a
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant that increases serotonin levels in
the brain, which is responsible for enhancing moods (IBM Corporation, 2020). On the other
hand, naltrexone works by blocking the euphoric, soothing effects of drugs.
The contraindicated drugs for the therapy with comorbid alcohol abuse treatment in
MDD are Methadone and Buprenorphine, which work by activating the opioid receptors in the
body, thereby reducing the cravings for drugs. Methadone reacts with Zoloft to increase the risk
of an irregular heart rhythm. Besides, combining sertraline with Buprenorphine can cause a rare
condition referred to as serotonin syndrome, which causes hallucinations, confusion, seizures,
increased heart rate, extreme changes in blood pressure, excessive sweating, fever, blurred
vision, and shivering and shaking (APA, 2013). Contraindications for Zoloft include patients
taking or stopped taking MAOIs within 14 days, pimozide, or with known hypersensitivity to
sertraline. The patient should see the resolutions from the fourth week of initiation of the
therapy.
Question 2: List 4 predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder
This study source was downloaded by 100000849840424 from CourseHero.com on 07-25-2022 05:11:18 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/84835106/NURS-6630-Week-8-Assignment-1docx/
Assignment 1: Short Answer Assessment
Student's Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course
Instructor
Due Date
This study source was downloaded by 100000849840424 from CourseHero.com on 07-25-2022 05:11:18 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/84835106/NURS-6630-Week-8-Assignment-1docx/
, 2
Assignment 1: Short Answer Assessment
Question 1: Appropriate drug therapy for a patient who presents with MDD and a history
of alcohol abuse. Which drugs are contraindicated if any, and why? Be specific. What is
the timeframe that the patient should see a resolution of symptoms?
The optimal treatment of patients with Major Depressive Disorder requires an awareness
of their comorbid alcohol abuse history and vise versa. The optimal course of treatment for
patients diagnosed with MDD and alcohol dependence is a combination of sertraline (Zoloft) 50
mg orally day taken in the morning and naltrexone 50 mg orally daily for 12 weeks. Zoloft is a
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant that increases serotonin levels in
the brain, which is responsible for enhancing moods (IBM Corporation, 2020). On the other
hand, naltrexone works by blocking the euphoric, soothing effects of drugs.
The contraindicated drugs for the therapy with comorbid alcohol abuse treatment in
MDD are Methadone and Buprenorphine, which work by activating the opioid receptors in the
body, thereby reducing the cravings for drugs. Methadone reacts with Zoloft to increase the risk
of an irregular heart rhythm. Besides, combining sertraline with Buprenorphine can cause a rare
condition referred to as serotonin syndrome, which causes hallucinations, confusion, seizures,
increased heart rate, extreme changes in blood pressure, excessive sweating, fever, blurred
vision, and shivering and shaking (APA, 2013). Contraindications for Zoloft include patients
taking or stopped taking MAOIs within 14 days, pimozide, or with known hypersensitivity to
sertraline. The patient should see the resolutions from the fourth week of initiation of the
therapy.
Question 2: List 4 predictors of late-onset generalized anxiety disorder
This study source was downloaded by 100000849840424 from CourseHero.com on 07-25-2022 05:11:18 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/84835106/NURS-6630-Week-8-Assignment-1docx/
