Two months ago, you saw Josie, a 34-year-old nurse, to whom you prescribed escitalopram 10 mg daily and alprazolam 0.5 mg, three times a day as needed for anxiety.
Today, Josie, her mom, and her boyfriend, Robs, present for a follow up visit. Josie reports, âMy anxiety isnât really any better. I havenât been able to come in to work for the past three days. I ran out of my alprazolam and I cannot even think about going to work without it. Tell her, Robs, what itâs like.â
âYesterday,â Robs says, âJosie couldnât get through the day, so um, yeah, she took some of my momâs alprazolam yesterda--.â
Josieâs mom interrupts to ask, âBut why did you even give her that drug? With her history of alcohol addiction! Sheâs been alcoholic since she was in her early 20s. And did she tell you her dad also had problems with addiction?â
âAddiction?â Robs asks Josieâs mom. âAre you worried about addiction to this drug?â
He turns to you, agitated. âDid you know Josieâs sometimes taking up to seven pills a day? At least that I know of. Is that overusing or addiction?â
Josie starts crying. âBut I can't function without alprazolam. Robs, you know how hard nursing has been ever since orientation ended. I love my job but I just want to feel normal. And the alprazolam makes me feel that way. Pleaseâ¦." she pleads.
Based on the initial letter of your last name, from your perspective as Josieâs psychiatric nurse practitioner, address the following in your initial post. Question 5 should be answered by everyone.
GâL: How does alprazolam work? What makes the medication so addictive?
Everyone: Are there any special considerations for Josie because she is a registered nurse? What are the rules and regulations in your state for impaired nurses? Include the link to online information.
Sample Solution