Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Mood Disorders Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Mood Disorders related questions and content

The nurse is completing a medication history for a client diagnosed with bipolar disorder. When assessing the medications, which medication classification is noted as an adjunct to lithium therapy?

  • A. Antidiabetics
  • B. Antihypertensives
  • C. Anticonvulsants
  • D. Antianginals
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Anticonvulsant therapy may be co-prescribed for a brief period to sedate the client and relieve bizarre thought processes faster than monotherapy with lithium. Anticonvulsants enhance the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in much the same way that benzodiazepines reduce anxiety and they are believed to inhibit glutamate.