Question

Carmen is a 40-year- old woman who suffers from severe depression. Her physician has tried several different antidepressants that have been unsuccessful in treating her condition. The physician is now considering placing Carmen on a tricyclic antidepressant or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.

1. What type of client education would you want to provide to a client who is prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant?
2. What type of client education would you want to provide to a client who is prescribed a monoamine oxidase inhibitor?

Answer 1

CLIENT EDUCATION WHO IS PRESCRIBED TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANT

• Explain the patient about the side effects of TCAs such as dry mouth, dry eyes, anxiety, drowsiness, dizziness, weight gain, headache.
• The side effects which is mentioned above is very common and other medicines also have side effects but it will go away after some time by itself.
• Advise to patient to follow instructions as her doctors told.
• Keep your medicine safe, Do not give it to anybody else.
• Keep the medicine away from children.
• Take the medicine regularly on time.
• It takes some time to get the better results, around one month.
• This medicines does not cause addiction.
• Do not stop these medicine without the doctors order otherwise it can cause adverse effects on health. Take the medicine atleast 6 weeks for better results.
• When you are on this medicine do not take alcohol.
• The medicine can cause drowsiness so better avoid driving.
• If you have any plan to get pregnant, let the physician know first.
• If the medicine cause any allergic reaction, inform the physician.
• These medicines react with other medicines, so don't take out of the counter medicine.

CLIENT EDUCATION WHO IS PRESCRIBED MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS:

• Side effects of this medicines are dry mouth, nausea, drowsiness, constipation, diarrhea, skin reaction patches on the skin.
• Advise the patient to take the medicine as directed by the physician.
• This medicine should be mixed with other antidepressants.
• This medicine should not be stopped suddenly.
• Certain foods must be avoided which contains tyramine while taking this medicine such as turkey, liver, salami, certain fruits such as bananas, raisins, avocados, figs. Cheese, alcohol, should be avoided. Tyramine increases blood pressure.
• Overdose of MAOIs can lead to severe problem.