WEEK 3 | NR 546 COMPLETE EXAM CASE STUDY (COMPLETE &
VERIFIED)
a. Select one drug to treat the diagnosis(es) or symptoms.
Aripiprazole (Abilify)
(Abilify Maintena, Aristada)
b. List medication class and mechanism of action for the chosen medication.
Class
Second/Third Generation Atypical Antipsychotic Medication
Dopamine partial agonist (dopamine-serotonin partial agonist)
Dopamine and mood stabilizer
Serotonin receptor partial agonist (DS-RPA) (Stahl, 2020).
Mechanism of Action
Partial agonistic action is seen at Dopamine 2 receptors by aripiprazole. It works
by increasing dopaminergic activity in the mesocortical circuit and decreasing
dopaminergic neurotransmission in the mesolimbic pathway, which improves
positive symptoms and mitigates psychotic symptoms (Stahl, 2020). Being a
"dopamine stabilizer," Abilify can function as a partial agonist when dopamine
levels are low and as a dopamine receptor antagonist when the dopamine
system is hyperactive. It binds to the receptor instead of dopamine because it
has a very high affinity for dopamine receptors, which allows it to accomplish this.
Moreover, aripiprazole functions by blocking serotonin 2A receptors, which raises
dopamine release in particular brain areas, may lessen motor side effects, and
may even enhance cognitive and affective symptoms (Stahl, 2020). As an
antagonist at 5-HT2A receptors and a partial agonist on D2 and 5-HT1A
receptors, resulting in aripiprazole's antipsychotic action.
c. Write the prescription in prescription format.
, Aripiprazole 10mg po daily
Dispense #30
No refills
Dx F20.9
d. Provide an evidence-based rationale for the selected medication using at
least one scholarly reference. Textbooks may be used for additional
references but are not the primary reference.
The FDA approved aripiprazole for the treatment of schizophrenia for patients
thirteen and older (Silva et al., 2019). Second/Third-generation antipsychotic
medication aripiprazole (ARI) has a high affinity for serotonin and dopamine
receptors. It is a dopamine system stabilizer with negligible adverse effects such
as low metabolic and weight gain risks. The distinct dopamine-dependent
mechanism of ARI aids in the management of both positive and negative
symptoms associated with schizophrenia. A meta-analysis was conducted on the
safety and tolerability of aripiprazole in the acute treatment of schizophrenia,
because of this therapeutic advancement, aripiprazole has demonstrated better
tolerability and consequently less aggressive adverse effects in comparison to
other antipsychotics. After assessing several anti-psychotics classes,
aripiprazole was the best choice due to the patient’s risk factors such as family
history, elevated BMI, and hypertension (Silva et al., 2019).
e. List any side effects or adverse effects associated with the medication.
The most common side effects in adults include nausea, vomiting, constipation,
headache, blurred vision, upper respiratory illness, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia,
VERIFIED)
a. Select one drug to treat the diagnosis(es) or symptoms.
Aripiprazole (Abilify)
(Abilify Maintena, Aristada)
b. List medication class and mechanism of action for the chosen medication.
Class
Second/Third Generation Atypical Antipsychotic Medication
Dopamine partial agonist (dopamine-serotonin partial agonist)
Dopamine and mood stabilizer
Serotonin receptor partial agonist (DS-RPA) (Stahl, 2020).
Mechanism of Action
Partial agonistic action is seen at Dopamine 2 receptors by aripiprazole. It works
by increasing dopaminergic activity in the mesocortical circuit and decreasing
dopaminergic neurotransmission in the mesolimbic pathway, which improves
positive symptoms and mitigates psychotic symptoms (Stahl, 2020). Being a
"dopamine stabilizer," Abilify can function as a partial agonist when dopamine
levels are low and as a dopamine receptor antagonist when the dopamine
system is hyperactive. It binds to the receptor instead of dopamine because it
has a very high affinity for dopamine receptors, which allows it to accomplish this.
Moreover, aripiprazole functions by blocking serotonin 2A receptors, which raises
dopamine release in particular brain areas, may lessen motor side effects, and
may even enhance cognitive and affective symptoms (Stahl, 2020). As an
antagonist at 5-HT2A receptors and a partial agonist on D2 and 5-HT1A
receptors, resulting in aripiprazole's antipsychotic action.
c. Write the prescription in prescription format.
, Aripiprazole 10mg po daily
Dispense #30
No refills
Dx F20.9
d. Provide an evidence-based rationale for the selected medication using at
least one scholarly reference. Textbooks may be used for additional
references but are not the primary reference.
The FDA approved aripiprazole for the treatment of schizophrenia for patients
thirteen and older (Silva et al., 2019). Second/Third-generation antipsychotic
medication aripiprazole (ARI) has a high affinity for serotonin and dopamine
receptors. It is a dopamine system stabilizer with negligible adverse effects such
as low metabolic and weight gain risks. The distinct dopamine-dependent
mechanism of ARI aids in the management of both positive and negative
symptoms associated with schizophrenia. A meta-analysis was conducted on the
safety and tolerability of aripiprazole in the acute treatment of schizophrenia,
because of this therapeutic advancement, aripiprazole has demonstrated better
tolerability and consequently less aggressive adverse effects in comparison to
other antipsychotics. After assessing several anti-psychotics classes,
aripiprazole was the best choice due to the patient’s risk factors such as family
history, elevated BMI, and hypertension (Silva et al., 2019).
e. List any side effects or adverse effects associated with the medication.
The most common side effects in adults include nausea, vomiting, constipation,
headache, blurred vision, upper respiratory illness, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia,
