Question

Please answer the following questions below for EACH of the drugs listed: Baclofen cyclobenzaprine zolpidem What is the classification of this medication? What conditions is/are this med used for? How is it administered? How does it work in the body? What are the contraindications? What signs and symptoms will you monitor? What will you teach your patient about the medication?

Answer 1

Baclofen:

classification: skeletal muscle relaxants

used:

Baclofen acts on the spinal cord nerves and decreases the number and severity of muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis or spinal cord conditions. It also relieves pain and improves muscle movement.

Route of administration: Baclofen can be administered transdermally as part of a pain-relieving and muscle-relaxing topical cream mix at a compounding pharmacy, orally or intrathecally (directly into the cerebral spinal fluid) using a pump implanted under the skin.

Work in the body: Baclofen is a muscle relaxant. It works by reducing the transmission of messages between nerve cells so muscles are less likely to contract and become stiff.

contraindication:

• confusion.
• schizophrenia.
• psychotic disorder.
• a stroke.
• seizures.
• functional disorder of bladder neck and sphincter mechanism.
• chronic kidney disease stage 3A (moderate)
• chronic kidney disease stage 3B (moderate)

Monitor:

Administration of baclofen with any other central nervous system depressants requires close monitoring.

Patients with epilepsy should be monitored with regular electroencephalogram due to deterioration in seizure control when receiving baclofen.

patient about the medication:
Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely.

Avoid alcoholic beverages.

Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially drowsiness and mental/mood changes

Cyclobenzaprine

classification: skeletal muscle relaxants

used:

Cyclobenzaprine is used with rest, physical therapy, and other measures to relax muscles and relieve pain and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, and other muscle injuries

Route of administration:

Cyclobenzaprine comes as a tablet and an extended-release capsule to take by mouth

contraindication: Cyclobenzaprine is contraindicated in patients with hyperthyroidism, arrhythmias, heart failure, heart block or conduction disturbances, during the acute recovery phase of myocardial infarction, or within 14 days of taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).

Monitor:

Patients taking cyclobenzaprine should have monitoring performed for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome, especially patients who are taking other serotonergic drugs. In two case reports, the authors described patients who quickly developed serotonin syndrome after initiating cyclobenzaprine in the short term. In both cases, the patients were found to be on serotonergic medications (phenelzine and duloxetine) prior to the initiation of cyclobenzaprine.

patient about the medication:

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of cyclobenzaprine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.
Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment.

You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol whilebeing treated with cyclobenzaprine..

zolpidem

classification: sedative-hypnotics.

uses:

Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep). Zolpidem belongs to a class of medications called sedative-hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep.

Route of administration:

Zolpidem tablets should not be chewed, broken, or crushed; they should be swallowed whole with a drink of water. Sublingual tablet (Edluar): The tablet should be placed under the tongue where it can disintegrate; it should not be swallowed. Do not take with water.

Contraindications:

• Angioedema. ...
• Behavioral changes, depression, suicidal ideation. ...
• Coadministration with other CNS depressants, complex sleep-related behaviors, driving or operating machinery, drug-induced complex sleep-related behaviors, ethanol ingestion, females.

Monitor:

Monitor for impaired cognitive and/or motor performance, confusion, and potential for falling. Females: Dosage adjustment is recommended for females; pharmacokinetic studies involving zolpidem showed a significant increase in maximum concentration and exposure in females compared to males at the same dose

patient about the medication:

Avoid taking zolpidem with food or right after eating a meal. This will make it harder for your body to absorb the medicine. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. You may still feel sleepy the morning after taking zolpidem, and your reactions could be impaired.