Prescribing Medications and Identifying Side Effects

Pharmacology Case Studies

Scenario 1

Diagnosis: Sandra is likely experiencing Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with coexisting anxiety, given her symptoms of persistent sadness, anxiety, and an “empty mood” (Walter et al., 2023). Her increased smoking indicates a need to manage both her mood and nicotine dependence.

Treatment:

Antidepressant: First-line treatment would involve initiating a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which can treat both depression and anxiety.

Medication: Sertraline 50 mg PO daily

· Route: Oral

· Frequency: Once daily

· Special Instructions: Take in the morning to avoid insomnia

· # Dispensed: 30 tablets (30-day supply)

· Refills: 1

· Tapering: Start at 50 mg. Depending on the response, it may be titrated up to 100 mg after 4-6 weeks (Sørensen et al., 2022).

Smoking Cessation: Recommend smoking cessation to address both health concerns and to improve her mental health (White et al., 2023).

Medication: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) via a patch

· Order: Nicotine transdermal patch 21 mg/24 hours

· Route: Transdermal

· Frequency: Change every 24 hours

· Special Instructions: Rotate application sites; discontinue smoking upon starting therapy

· # Dispensed: 30-day supply

· Refills: 1

Current Medications:

Pantoprazole: Continue for GERD.