Exam 16: Antimanic Drugs

A patient who has taken lithium for 6 months reports, "I go to the bathroom many times a day and pass large amounts of very pale urine." The nurse's action should be based on the understanding that these symptoms may indicate which problem?

A patient diagnosed with mania begins lithium therapy on October 1. What is the earliest date a nurse can expect to see clinical improvement in the patient's condition?

A patient has taken lithium ( Lithobid ) 300 mg three times daily for 1 week. The patient reports the presence of fine hand tremors and thirst. Select the nurse's best action.

Teaching for a patient who is to be discharged on a maintenance dose of lithium should emphasize the importance of:

Which patient would require careful assessment for toxic effects of lithium? The individual taking lithium and:

A patient with a long history of multiple sclerosis developed psychosis with acute mania. The nurse should anticipate that the health care provider will probably prescribe which medication to help stabilize the mania?

Which assessment findings validate that a patient with bipolar disorder is experiencing mania? Select all that apply.

Select the accurate information about the pharmacokinetics of lithium.

The nurse scheduling the serum lithium level blood draw for a patient should arrange for it to be obtained:

For patients with bipolar disorder, valproate anticonvulsants are likely to help control rapid-cycling episodes by:

A patient's serum lithium level is 1.8 mEq/L. Select the nurse's priority action.

Maintenance of a therapeutic serum level of lithium is dependent on adequate serum levels of:

Which patient should be assessed most carefully for evidence of lithium toxicity? A patient taking lithium ( Lithobid ) and:

A nurse should schedule a weekly complete blood cell count ( CBC ) for a patient beginning therapy with which antimanic drug?

A patient has mild lithium toxicity with a serum level of 1.6 mEq/L. Which assessment findings are most likely?

A patient has taken lithium (Lithane) 600 mg three times daily for 1 week. A laboratory result in which range shows that the desired serum lithium level was achieved?

A patient with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is not responding to lithium therapy. At the next multidisciplinary team meeting, the nurse should point out that many rapid-cycling patients have been effectively treated using:

A patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder asks the nurse, "Why can't I take my lithium just once a day at bedtime? It's hard to remember to take it three times." The nurse's reply should be based on what information?

For 2 weeks a patient has taken lithium (Lithane) and risperidone (Risperdal) daily for mania. The patient now reports diarrhea, vomiting, and blurred vision. The nurse observes a coarse hand tremor. Select the nurse's priority action.

The spouse of a patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder tells the nurse, "Every time my partner recovers from a manic episode, depression follows soon. It's very discouraging." The nurse's reply should include what information?