re: anti-depressant withdrawal symptoms-professionally and personally
As an RN, responsible for medicating my patients properly,
particularly during the active dying process, I find it essential to be
familiar with the medications, uses, and side effects; particularly any
withdrawal symptoms that may occur with abrupt discontinuation of long-
term meds. If I am remiss in how a patient could be effected, not only
would I be using poor nursing judgement, I may be defeating the long-held
Hospice belief of improving the quality of life remaining, by symptom
management, mostly focused on the control of pain and anxiety.
Withdrawal from "major players", such as ativan, and benzodiazapines,
are easily remembered. Where the concern lies is in educating our work
force on lesser recognized medications that can cause withdrawal syptoms,
such as the SSRI's and SNRI's, and what those symptoms include.
From personal experience,I have found the pharmacists unwilling to
assist with preventing these painful symptoms, which could be circumvented
with a simple phone call to the physician. These symptoms are REAL, and
they HURT.
Rapid Response:
re: anti-depressant withdrawal symptoms-professionally and personally
As an RN, responsible for medicating my patients properly,
particularly during the active dying process, I find it essential to be
familiar with the medications, uses, and side effects; particularly any
withdrawal symptoms that may occur with abrupt discontinuation of long-
term meds. If I am remiss in how a patient could be effected, not only
would I be using poor nursing judgement, I may be defeating the long-held
Hospice belief of improving the quality of life remaining, by symptom
management, mostly focused on the control of pain and anxiety.
Withdrawal from "major players", such as ativan, and benzodiazapines,
are easily remembered. Where the concern lies is in educating our work
force on lesser recognized medications that can cause withdrawal syptoms,
such as the SSRI's and SNRI's, and what those symptoms include.
From personal experience,I have found the pharmacists unwilling to
assist with preventing these painful symptoms, which could be circumvented
with a simple phone call to the physician. These symptoms are REAL, and
they HURT.
happyiswe2@aol.com
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests