Nursing Diagnoses in Psychiatric Nursing Care Plans and Psychotropic Medications

Substance-Related Disorders ●^87

Class of DrugsIntoxicationWithdrawal

Comments

Aggressiveness, impaired judgment, Tremors, nausea/vomiting, malaise, Alcoholimpaired attention, irritability, weakness, tachycardia, sweating, euphoria, depression, emotional elevated blood pressure, anxiety, lability, slurred speech, incoordi-depressed mood, irritability, nation, unsteady gait, nystagmus, hallucinations, headache, insomnia, seizuresfl ushed face

Alcohol withdrawal begins within 4 to 6 hr after last drink. May progress to delirium tremens on second or third day. Use of Librium or Serax is common for substitution therapy.

Amphetamines Anxiety, depressed mood, irritability, Fighting, grandiosity, hyper-^ vigilance, psychomotor agitation, and relatedcraving for the substance, fatigue, substancesimpaired judgment, tachycardia, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation, paranoid pupillary dilation, elevated blood pressure, perspiration or chills, and suicidal ideationnausea and vomiting

Withdrawal symptoms usually peak within 2 to 4 days, although depression and irritability may persist for months. Antidepressants may be used.

CaffeineRestlessness, nervousness, Headache, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, excitement, insomnia, fl ushed depression, nausea, vomiting, muscle face, diuresis, gastrointestinal pain and stiffness.complaints, muscle twitching, rambling fl ow of thought and speech, cardiac arrhythmia, periods of inexhaustibility, psychomotor agitation

Caffeine is contained in coffee, tea, colas, cocoa, chocolate, some over-the-counter analgesics, “cold” preparations, and stimulants.

CannabisEuphoria, anxiety, suspiciousness, Restlessness, irritability, insomnia, sensation of slowed time, impaired loss of appetitejudgment, social withdrawal, tachycardia, conjunctival redness, increased appetite, hallucinations

Intoxication occurs immediately and lasts about 3 hours. Oral ingestion is more slowly absorbed and has longer-lasting effects.

TABLE 4 – 2^ Summary of Symptoms Associated with the Syndromes of Intoxication and Withdrawal

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