How to write a nursing essay on Pharmacokinetics

How to write a nursing essay on Pharmacokinetics

List the trade name of a drug used for psychiatric treatment that begins with the first letter of your first name (G) (include generic name).

The drug chosen for this discussion is Geodon.

The generic name of this drug Ziprasidone.
Upload a picture of the selected food or drug (optional)

List one FDA approved use and one off-label use for the selected drug

Ziprasidone is a second-generation antipsychotic drug that is FDA approved for the treatment of schizophrenia. Although oral formulations are commonly used, the injectable form is approved for the management of acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia (Food and Drug Administration, 2008). The actual mechanism of action of this drug is not known but it is thought to interact with dopamine D2 and serotonin 5HT2 receptors.

Ziprasidone may be used off-label for the treatment of schizoaffective disorder. This condition is marked by a combination of schizophrenia symptoms like hallucinations and mood disorder symptoms like mania. Research establishes that dosage of 40- 80 mg twice daily in patients with schizoaffective disorder relieves symptoms (Vogel et al., 2009). The fast-acting nature of this drug makes it effective to manage acute agitation. However, the drug can cause prolonged QT intervals and should be used for approved purposes.

List one drug or herb that potentiates the identified drug.

One drug that potentiates the action of Ziprasidone is Abarelix. Abarelix is an antagonist to gonadotropin-releasing hormone that is used for the advanced treatment of prostate cancer. When used together with Ziprasidone, research establishes that it can cause additive QT prolongation. This means that individuals taking this drugs can increase the risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms that could cause cardiac arrest.

Explain the identified drug’s half-life.

Ziprasidone has a short half-life of 7 to 10 hours (Vogel et al., 2009). The drug is well-absorbed orally but intramuscular injections produce a quick response within 30 to 45 minutes. The absorption of the drug can be increased when taken with food up to two-fold. The average systemic clearance of the drug is 7.5ml/min/kg and is excreted in urine and feces. The short half-life of the drug makes it the agent of choice for the management of agitation observed in patients with schizophrenia.

Explain the importance of knowing about the drug’s therapeutic index.

The therapeutic index is a quantitative measure of the relative safety of a drug that is used to dictate the dosage at which medication is effective. Ziprasidone is available in doses ranging from 20mg to 80 mg twice daily (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2020). Understanding the therapeutic index of the drug can help to prevent drug overdose that can have adverse effects on patients. Secondly, understanding the therapeutic index can help providers in regulating doses in those with renal impairment and cardiac issues due to QT prolongation.

References

Food and Drug Administration. (2008.). Geodon (Ziprasidone HCL). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/020825s035,020919s023lbl.pdf

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2020). Ziprasidone (Geodon). https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-Health-Medications/Types-of-Medication/Ziprasidone-(Geodon)#:~:text=Ziprasidone%20may%20also%20be%20helpful,Drug%20Administration%20for%20this%20condition.

Vogel, F., Gansmüller, R., Leiblein, T., Dietmaier, O., Wassmuth, H., Gründer, G., & Hiemke, C. (2009). The use of ziprasidone in clinical practice: Analysis of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects from data of a drug monitoring survey. European psychiatry : The journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 24(3), 143–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2008.09.003

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