What is the importance of de-prescribing? How might you assist a patient to taper from a medication safely or transition to a new medication?
In this Assignment, you will use the following patient examples to write a 5- to 6-page paper on considerations you have for how you might de-prescribe. Support your answers with five (5) evidence-based, peer-reviewed scholarly literature resources outside of Required Learning Resources in this course.
case scenario
A 42-year-old female on alprazolam 1mg BID for panic attacks. Panic attacks have been in remission and the patient wants to taper off the medication. But, every time she has attempted to do so in the past, she experienced withdrawal effects. She is wondering how to safely taper off the benzodiazepine medication without having withdrawal effects.
Answer the following questions using the patient examples described above.
- The patient reports withdrawal symptoms when previously tapering off the alprazolam. What symptoms are common withdrawal symptoms from this medication?
- Provide the patient education of withdrawal symptoms that range from common and less serious to withdrawal symptoms that are a cause for concern and that should prompt patient should seek medical attention.
- Given the patient’s history of having withdrawal effects from attempting to taper off alprazolam, what longer-acting benzodiazepine would you choose to convert the patient to?
- What is the dose you would prescribe and how would you taper off the medication?
resources
- Goldin, D. S. (2023). Fast facts for psychopharmacology for nurse practitioners. Springer Publishing.
- Chapter 6, “Anxiolytics and Anti-Anxiety Medications“ (pp. 85–110)
- Chapter 11, “Sleep Disorders” (pp. 228–247)
- Community Behavioral Health. (2019, February). Clinical guidelines for tapering benzodiazepinesLinks to an external site.. https://cbhphilly.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Helping-Patients-Taper-from-Benzodiazepines-FINAL-3.pdf
- National Center for PTSD. (2013). Effective treatments for PTSD: Helping patients taper from benzodiazepinesLinks to an external site.. https://www.va.gov/painmanagement/docs/OSI_6_Toolkit_Taper_Benzodiazepines_Clinicians.pdf
- Ogbonna, C. I. & Lembke, A. (2017). Tapering patients off of benzodiazepinesLinks to an external site.. American Family Physician, 96(9), 606–608. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2017/1101/p606.html
- Drugs.comLinks to an external site.. (2023). use the following resource to check the most up-to-date box warnings, FDA approvals and indications, recommendations for follow-up evaluations, changes, etc.
