Pharmacology Report, Essay Example

Lisa Smith is a 30 year-old female who is 5’7” and weighs 145 pounds. She has experienced significant anxiety in recent months over the loss of her mother, which is accompanied by high stress, lack of concentration at work, and random panic attacks. She has been struggling to remain in control of her life and has visited her physician in order to determine if there are any medications that are available to alleviate her anxiety and panic attacks as quickly as possible. After a visit with her primary care physician, she was prescribed Lorazepam 1 mg daily. The pharmacy did not have all dosages of the drug in stock; therefore, when Lisa visited the pharmacy, she was given a one-month supply of the drug, or 60 pills. The amount of medication that was administered was calculated as follows: 2 mg po daily /0.5 mg per pill = 4 pills per day, split into two pills per dose twice a day, with a follow-up visit at the physician’s office in four weeks in order to determine progress and if any counterindications or side effects have occurred.

Analysis

It is evident that when a prescription is written for a patient, the pharmacy must administer the proper dosage to the patient. However, this process begins even earlier, as the medical assistant must understand the doctor’s prescription and be able to interpret it properly. This process will ensure that patients are receiving the medications in the appropriate manner and dosage. This drug must be analyzed for its indications, side effects, and other factors that may impact patients who take it on a regular basis. Therefore, it is important to identify some of the issues associated with this medication and to recognize the importance of its impact on patients through these issues and how they might influence the patient in question. The patient’s diagnosed condition is a common vehicle for lorazepam; however, every patient responds differently and therefore, requires individual attention and focus in order to accomplish the desired treatment objectives.

In order to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the drug, the patient must be provided with a sufficient amount of information to meet her needs and to enable her to understand how the drug will operate within her system. Lorazepam is typically prescribed when there is a presence of an anxiety disorder and/or panic attack disorder, both of which may exist concurrently (Ogbru & Marks, 2014). The drug is used to stimulate relaxation in the brain by slowing down activity and is classified as a benzodiazepine (MedlinePlus, 2014). Although the drug induces relaxation, with a smaller dose, it is not likely to cause high levels of sedation (Drugs.com, 2014). However, the drug also requires careful monitoring because if taken regularly for a lengthy period of time, it may be habit-forming or even addictive for patients (Drugs.com, 2014). When a patient develops a high tolerance level, there may be a greater tendency to take more of the drug than the dosage requires; therefore, it is important to emphasize to the patient that in spite of her anxiety and moments of panic, she should not take more of the drug than has been prescribed because this could lead to serious and unnecessary complications over time (Drugs.com, 2014).

This drug may be taken by mouth or in liquid form during hospitalization or other conditions where an oral tablet is not appropriate, but the patient in question has been prescribed an oral dose. The drug may be stored at room temperature and should be stored carefully out of the reach of children (MedlinePlus, 2014). For the patient in question, the drug should be taken at the required intervals, and if a dose is missed, a double dose should not be taken during the next interval (MedlinePlus, 2014). It is important to enable the patient to have time for the drug to absorb into her system and to enable her to experience the desired effects over time (MedlinePlus, 2014). The patient should be provided with the tools and resources that are necessary to address any possible complications or side effects of the drug, which will be addressed in the following paragraph.

Under specific conditions and at the prescribed dosage, lorazepam is generally safe to use and should not lead to significant complications. However, prior to administration, any allergies must be identified so that the drug is not ill-prescribed to a patient with an allergy to the medication family (MedlinePlus, 2014). The most common side effects associated with the drug include dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, weakness, and restlessness; therefore, the patient should pay close attention to any changes in her behavior that go beyond the norm and that indicate that these possible side effects have occurred (MedlinePlus, 2014). Furthermore, it is important for the patient to report any unmanageable side effects to her physician as soon as possible to prevent long-term complications and other challenges that will prolong her condition in an unnecessary manner (MedlinePlus, 2014). Any drug must be taken very carefully and monitored for side effects; however, this drug as part of the benzodiazepine family requires additional attention and focus because of its addictive properties and host of side effects (MedlinePlus, 2014). The patient must pay close attention to these concerns and make all possible efforts to address the condition in a timely manner in order to accomplish the desired objectives, while also demonstrating an important understanding of the complications that are related to her condition and how they might impact her health and wellbeing (MedlinePlus, 2014).

When taking this drug for anxiety, panic attacks, and other concerns, it is important to identify if there will be any counterindications associated with food or beverages, and in this example, the use of alcohol while taking this drug is strongly discouraged due to the exacerbation of drowsiness that may occur and that may impair driving and other activities (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Therefore, the use of alcohol while taking this drug is strongly discouraged, along with the use of other medications that promote drowsiness, including cold and allergy medications, sedatives, muscle relaxants, and antihistamines (Mayo Clinic, 2014). For this patient, the use of lorazepam must be carefully monitored in order to prevent any of these complications, while also providing the patient with a platform to alleviate her anxiety and panic attack symptoms as best as possible. The patient must be made aware of these concerns prior to taking the first dose of the medication so that she understands the risks and recognizes the potential consequences of her own behavior related to the drug and its complications. She must also recognize the importance of adhering to the physician’s requirements regarding dosage so that she is able to manage her symptoms effectively and obtain a greater sense of health and wellbeing.

Conclusion

Lorazepam is an important pharmacological therapy for the treatment of recurrent anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and other related conditions. This drug is prescribed in order to alleviate some of the most common symptoms of these conditions; however, the addictive nature of the drug requires a high level of attention and awareness of its indications. For the patient in question, it is important to be apprised of the changes that the patient might experience with the condition and the impact that it may have on her overall health and wellbeing, thereby requiring an ongoing effort to address any complications that may arise. Careful monitoring of the patient is required on a continuous basis in order to accomplish the desired treatment objectives and to strike a balance between the patient’s needs and any possible complications that may occur during treatment.

References

Drugs.com (2014). Lorazepam. Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/cdi/lorazepam.html

MayoClinic (2014). Lorazepam (oral route). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/lorazepam-oral-route/description/drg-20072296

MedlinePlus (2014). Lorazepam. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682053.html

Ogbru, O., & Marks, J.W. (2014). Lorazepam, Ativan. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/lorazepam/article.htm