Brand/ generic

Dosage
name
Lithium Carbonate adult: PO
Dose 600 mg
t.i.d. or 900 mg
Brand: Eskalith,
sustained-release
Eskalith CR,
Lithane, Lithobid, b.i.d. or 30 mL
(48 mEq) of
Lithonate,
solution t.i.d.
Lithotabs
child:PO 1560
mg/kg/d in
divided doses

Classification

Indication

Contraindication

Side effect

Nursing responsibilities

central nervous
system agent;
psychotherapeutic
agent; antimanic

treatment of manic
episodes of manicdepressive illness;
maintenance therapy
to prevent or
diminish frequency
and intensity of
subsequent manic
episodes

-Contraindicated with
hypersensitivity
to tartrazine; significant
renal or CV disease;
severe debilitation,
dehydration; sodium
depletion, patients on
diuretics (lithium
decreases
sodium reabsorption,
and hyponatremia incre
ases lithium retention);
use of ACE inhibitors;
pregnancy; lactation.
-Use cautiously with
protracted sweating and
diarrhea; suicidal or
impulsive patients;
infection with fever

cNS:Dizziness,
headache, lethargy,
drowsiness, fatigue,
slurred speech

-Take this drug exactly

as prescribed, after
meals or with food or
milk. Swallow extendedor controlled-release
tablets whole; do not
chew or crush
-Use contraception to
avoid pregnancy. If you
wish to become pregnant
or believe that you have
become pregnant,
consult your health care
provider
-Discontinue drug, and
notify your health care
provider if toxicity
occursdiarrhea,
vomiting, ataxia,
tremor, drowsiness, lack
of coordination or
muscular weakness.

CV:Arrhythmias,
hypotension
Endocrine:Diffuse
thyroid enlargement,
hypothyroidism
GI:Nausea, vomiting,
anorexia, abdominal
pain, diarrhea

Brand/ generic name

Dosage

Classification

Generic
Name: carbamazepi
ne

Tablets: 200 mg.

Chewable
tablets; 100 mg.
Extended
release tablets;
100, 200, and
400 mg.
Suspension; 100
mg/5 ml.
Equetro is
available in 100,
200, and 300 mg
extended release
tablets

Anticonvulstan -Reduces anxiety,

t
irritability, elation
-Impulse control
behavior

Brands: Tegretol,
Tegretol XR ,
Equetro, Carbatrol

Indication

Contraindication

Side effect

Nursing Res.

-Hypersensitivity

CNS: headache,
tremors, confusion,
restlessness,
memory loss,
seizures, slurred
speech, muscle
weakness, lack of
coordination,
lethargy, stupor

-Administer medication with

food to minimize gastric
irritation. Tablets may be
crushed if patient has
difficulty swallowing. Do
not crush or chew extendedrelease tablets.

-Kidney disease
-Cardiovascular
disease
-Seizure
disorder,
myasthenia
gravis
-Dehydration
- Hypothyroidism

CV: bradycardia,
ECG changes,
arrhythmias
GI: anorexia,
nausea, vomiting,
abdominal cramps
or pain

-Instruct patients that fever,

sore throat, mouth ulcers,
easy bruising, petechiae,
unusual bleeding, abdominal
pain, chills, rash, pale stools,
dark urine or jaundice
should be reported.
-Advise patient not to take
alcohol or other CNS
depressant concurrently with
this medication.

Generic/ Brand
name

Dosage

Classification

Indication

Containdication

Side effect

Nursing
responsibilities

Generic Name:
valproic acid

Capsules250 mg;
syrup250 mg/5
mL; DR tablets
125, 250, 500 mg;
sprinkle capsules
125 mg; injection
100 mg/mL; ER
tablets250, 500
mg

Antiepileptic

-Sole and adjunctive

therapy in simple
(petit mal) and
complex absence
seizures

Contraindicated with
hypersensitivity to
valproic acid,
hepatic disease or
significant hepatic
impairment.

CNS: Sedation,
tremor (may be
dose-related),
emotional upset,
depression,
psychosis,
aggression,
hyperactivity

Give drug with food

if GI upset occurs;
substitution of the
enteric-coated
formulation also
may be of benefit;
have patient swallow
SR tablet whole; do
not cut, crush, or
chew.

Depakene

-Unlabeled uses:
Adjunct in symptom
management of
schizophrenia,
treatment of
aggressive outbursts
in children with
attention-deficit
hyperactivity
disorder, organic
brain syndrome

GI: Nausea,
vomiting,
indigestion, diarrhea,
abdominal cramps,
constipation

-Avoid alcohol and

sleep-inducing and
over-the-counter
drugs. These could
cause dangerous
effects.

Generic/Brand

Dosage

Classification

Indication

Contraindication

Side effect

Generic Name:

Capsules100, 300,
400 mg; tablets100,
300, 400, 600,
800 mg; oral
solution
250 mg/5 mL

Antiepileptic

-Orphan drug use:

Treatment of
amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis
-Unlabeled uses:
Tremors of
MS, neuropathic pain,
bipolar disorder,
migraine prophylaxis

-Contraindicated
with hyper
sensitivity
to gabapentin.
- Use cautiously
with pregnancy,
lactation

CNS: Dizziness,
insomnia,
nervousness,
fatigue, somnolence

Gabapentin
Brand Name
Apo-Gabapentin
(CAN), GenGabapentin (CAN),
Neurontin

Epilepsy: Starting
dose is 300 mg PO tid,
then titrated up as
needed. Maintenance:
9001,800 mg/day PO
in divided doses tid
PO; maximum
interval between doses
should not exceed 12
hr. Up to 2,400
3,600 mg/day has
been used.

GI: Dyspepsia,
vomiting, nausea,
constipation, dry
mouth
-Respiratory:
Rhinitis, pharyngitis
-Other: Weight gain,
facial edema, cancer,
impotence

Nursing
responsibilities
-You may
experience these
side effects:
Dizziness, blurred
vision (avoid
driving or
performing other
tasks requiring
alertness or visual
acuity); GI upset
(take drug with food
or milk, eat frequent
small meals);
headache,
nervousness,
insomnia; fatigue
(periodic rest
periods may help)
-Report severe
headache,
sleepwalking, rash,
severe vomiting,
chills, fever,
difficulty breathing.

Brand/Generic

Dosage

Classification

Indication

Contraindication

Side effect

Nursing
responsibilities

-Adjuvant therapy in
the treatment of
partial seizures in
adults with epilepsy

-Contraindicated
with allergy to drug,
lactation, pregnancy.
-Use cautiously with
impaired hepatic,
renal, or cardiac
function; patients <
16 yr

-CNS:
Dizziness, insomnia,
headache,
somnolence, ataxia
-Dermatologic: Rash,
Stevens-Johnson
syndrome, toxic
epidermal necrosis
with multiorgan
failure
GI: Nausea, vomiting

-Monitor renal
and hepatic
function before
and periodically
during therapy; if
abnormal,
reevaluate
therapy.

LAMOTRIGINE
Lamictal,
Lamictal
Chewable
Dispersible Tablet

Tablets25, 100,
Antiepileptic agent
150, 200 mg;
chewable tablets2,
5, 25 mg
-Adult-Patients
taking enzymeinducing antiepiletic
drugs: 50 mg PO
daily for 2 wk; then
100 mg PO daily in
2 divided doses for 2
wk; may increase by
100 mg/day every
wk up to a
maintenance dose of
300700 mg/day in
2 divided doses. If
valproic acid is also
being taken: 25 mg
PO every other day
for 2 wk; then 25 mg
PO daily for 2 wk,
then may increase
by 2550 mg every
12 wk up to a
maintenance dose of
100200 mg/day PO
in 2 divided doses.

-Monotherapy in
adults with partial
seizures
- Unlabeled use:
generalized tonicclonic, absence, and
myoclonic seizures
(adults), bipolar
disorder

-Monitor patient
for any sign of
rash; discontinue
lamotrigine
immediately if
rash appears and
be prepared with
appropriate life
support if
needed.
-Administer
chewable,
dispersible
tablets with a
small amount of
water or fruit
juice if chewed;
to disperse, add
tablet to 1 tsp
water, wait 1
min, swirl and
administer
immediately

Brand/Gneric

Dosage

BREVITAL

500 mg, 2.5 g, 5 g

powder for
injection IV

Generic name:
METHOHEXITAL
SODIUM

Adult: Induction:
50-120 mg (70
mg average) IV
push at 10 mg ( 1
mL of 1%
solution) over 5
seconds,
depending on
patient response
Maintenance: 2040 mg (2-4 mL of
1% soluiton) IV
push q4-7min
PRN, OR 4-6
mg/min IV drip
Child: 6.6-10
mg/kg IM
administered as a
5% (50 mg/mL)
solution OR 25
mg/kg PR
administered as a
1% (10 mg/mL)
solution

Classification

CENTRAL NERVOUS
SYSTEM (CNS)
AGENT; GENERAL
ANESTHETIC; BARBITURATE

Indication

Contraindication

Side effect

This medication
is a barbiturate
anesthetic,
prescribed for
inducing
anesthesia before
surgery. It
inhibits painful
sensation by
depressing brain
activity.

Hypersensitivity to
methohexital
sodium;
agranulocytosis;
barbiturate
hypersensitivity;
hepatic
encephalopathy;
intraarterial
administration;
shock, heart
failure, PVD,
severe hypo- and
hypertension,
respiratory
depression, infants
<1 mo; neonates.

Circulatory
depression,
thrombophlebitis,
hypotension,
tachycardia,
peripheral vascular
collapse,
convulsions in
association with
cardiorespiratory
arrest, respiratory
depression,
laryngospasm,
bronchospasm,
hiccups, dyspnea

Nursing
responsibilities
--Hiccups are
common,
particularly with
rapid injection;
they sometimes
persist after
anesthesia.
-- Keep facilities
for assisting
respiration and
administration of
oxygen readily
available in the
event of
respiratory
distress.