A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder tells the nurse, "I want to try supplementing my selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with St. John’s wort.” Which action should the nurse take first?

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Use of Psychotropic Medications Questions

Question 1 of 5

A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder tells the nurse, "I want to try supplementing my selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with St. John’s wort.” Which action should the nurse take first?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Correct Answer: A Rationale: 1. St. John's wort is known to interact with SSRIs, increasing the risk of serotonin syndrome. 2. Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by excessive serotonin levels. 3. Advising the patient of this danger is crucial to prevent harmful interactions. 4. This action prioritizes patient safety and ensures informed decision-making. Summary: B: Aromatherapy is not evidence-based for treating major depressive disorder and is not a priority in this scenario. C: Assessing for depression and suicide risk is important but addressing the potential drug interaction takes precedence. D: Decreasing the antidepressant dose should not be recommended without proper evaluation and medical guidance.

Question 2 of 5

A patient diagnosed with depression confidently tells the nurse, "I’ve been supplementing my paroxetine with St. John’s wort. It has helped a great deal.” What is the nurse’s priority action?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Educate the patient about the risks of selective serotonin syndrome. St. John's wort is known to interact with paroxetine, potentially leading to serotonin syndrome. This is a serious condition that can be life-threatening. The nurse's priority is to ensure the patient is aware of this risk to prevent any harm. Choice A is incorrect because assessing changes in depression levels is important but not the priority in this situation. Choice B is incorrect as it is unrelated to the potential interaction between St. John's wort and paroxetine. Choice D is incorrect as adding valerian without addressing the potential interaction with St. John's wort can be harmful.

Question 3 of 5

What is the name of the lobe that controls visual processing?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Occipital Lobe. This lobe is responsible for visual processing, interpreting visual information such as shapes, colors, and motion. It contains the primary visual cortex, which plays a crucial role in processing visual stimuli. The other choices are incorrect because A: Gyrus is a raised fold in the brain's surface, B: Frontal Lobe is primarily responsible for executive functions and motor skills, and D: Parietal Lobe is involved in sensory processing and spatial awareness.

Question 4 of 5

What lobe of the brain is responsible for higher-level executive functions such as expressive language and voluntary movement?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is responsible for higher-level executive functions like expressive language and voluntary movement. It houses the prefrontal cortex, crucial for decision-making and problem-solving. The other choices are incorrect because: A: The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for visual processing. B: The parietal lobe is involved in processing sensory information and spatial awareness. D: The temporal lobe plays a role in auditory processing and memory functions.

Question 5 of 5

What is the expected outcome for a patient who is considered a "intermediate metabolizer"?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: As an intermediate metabolizer, the patient may have variations in drug metabolism, leading to altered drug levels and potentially increased risk for drug-drug interactions. This is due to slower or inefficient metabolism of certain medications, which can result in drug accumulation and adverse effects when combined with other drugs. Therefore, the correct answer is B. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Incorrect - Intermediate metabolizers may still require medication dosage adjustments. C: Incorrect - Providers may need to decrease, not increase, drug dosages for intermediate metabolizers. D: Incorrect - Intermediate metabolizers may experience subtherapeutic effects due to variability in drug metabolism.

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