Bipolar Therapy
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The client is a 26-year-old woman of Korean descent who presents to her first appointment following a 21-day hospitalization for onset of acute mania. She was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder.
Upon arrival in your office, she is quite “busy,” playing with things on your desk and shifting from side to side in her chair. She informs you that “they said I was bipolar, I don’t believe that, do you? I just like to talk, and dance, and sing. Did I tell you that I liked to cook?”
She weighs 110 lbs. and is 5’ 5”
SUBJECTIVE
Patient reports “fantastic” mood. Reports that she sleeps about 5 hours/night to which she adds “I hate sleep, it’s no fun.”
You reviewed her hospital records and find that she has been medically worked up by a physician who reported her to be in overall good health. Lab studies were all within normal limits. You find that the patient had genetic testing in the hospital (specifically GeneSight testing) as none of the medications that they were treating her with seemed to work.
Genetic testing reveals that she is positive for CYP2D6*10 allele.
Patient did well enough on Lithium to be discharged from the hospital but admits she has not been taking it as prescribed. When further questioned on the subject, she provides no additional details.
MENTAL STATUS EXAM
The patient is alert, oriented to person, place, time, and event. She is dressed quite oddly- wearing what appears to be an evening gown to her appointment. Speech is rapid, pressured, and tangential. Self-reported mood is euthymic. Affect broad. Patient denies visual or auditory hallucinations, no overt delusional or paranoid thought processes readily apparent. Judgment is grossly intact, but insight is clearly impaired. She is currently denying suicidal or homicidal ideation.
The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score is 22
RESOURCES
§ Chen, R., Wang, H., Shi, J., Shen, K., & Hu, P. (2015). Cytochrome P450 2D6 genotype affects the pharmacokinetics of controlled-release paroxetine in healthy Chinese subjects: comparison of traditional phenotype and activity score systems. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 71(7), 835-841. doi:10.1007/s00228-015-1855-6
Decision Point One
Select what the PMHNP should do:
Begin Lithium 300 mg orally BID
Begin Risperdal 1 mg orally BID
Begin Seroquel XR 300 mg orally at HS
Decision Point One
Begin Seroquel XR 300 mg orally at HS
RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE
Client returns to clinic in four weeks
Client is reporting that she sleeps a bit more at bedtime
Client states that she has gained about 2 or 3 pounds, which she does not like
Client also reports that she has been constipated since starting this medication
Client is also complaining of dry mouth which she does not like.
Client’s score on the Young Mania Rating Scale has decreased from a 22 to an 18
Client is reporting really good mood, but is asking for a different medication because of the weight gain
Decision Point Two
Select what the PMHNP should do:
Increase Seroquel XR to 400 mg orally at HS
Discontinue Seroquel and start Geodon 40 mg orally BID. Administer with 500 calorie meal
Continue same dose of Seroquel and counsel client regarding ways to prevent constipation
Decision Point Two
Discontinue Seroquel and start Geodon 40 mg orally BID. Administer with 500 calorie meal
RESULTS OF DECISION POINT TWO
Client returns to clinic in four weeks
Client demonstrates a 50% decrease in score on the Young Mania Rating Scale (from 22 to 11)
Client denies any additional weight gain and denies any additional side effects
Decision Point Three
Select what the PMHNP should do:
Continue same dose and reassess in 4 weeks
Increase Geodon to 60 mg orally BID with a 500 calorie meal
Augment with Lithium sustained release 300 mg orally BID
Decision Point Three
Continue same dose and reassess in 4 weeks
Guidance to Student
The PMHNP should provide counseling to the client about this side effect and encourage increased fluids and fiber in the diet to combat constipation. Hard candies or gum can be used to prevent dry mouth. This is another issue as the drug can cause dental problems as a result of dry mouth.
Changing to Geodon clearly helped with symptoms and arrested weight gain in this client. The PMHNP could wait 4 weeks and see if any changes in Young Mania Rating Scale are noted, or increasing to 60 mg orally BID in an attempt to hasten symptom improvement. Increasing dose may be associated with side effects.
Augmentation with Lithium may be appropriate if the goal of therapy is to discontinue antipsychotic therapy and treat with Lithium monotherapy. Lithium was problematic for this client but changing formulation to the extended release may overcome the difficulties she was experiencing with side effects. The PMHNP would need to educate client regarding side effects of medication and need to maintain compliance