Treatment Goals for Margaret: Pharmacological Management of Hypertension and Medication Adjustment
Overview
This case study examines the treatment plan for a geriatric patient named Margaret who experiences adverse effects from Clonidine medication. The paper recommends discontinuation of Clonidine and proposes Benazepril as an alternative ACE inhibitor for managing her hypertension while addressing tremor symptoms and medication side effects.
What this case study covers
- Introduction outlining treatment goals for discontinuing Clonidine
- Pharmacological analysis of Clonidine effects and contraindications for geriatric patients
- Medication instructions and patient-centered teaching for Benazepril as replacement therapy
- Discussion of adverse effects and clinical decision-making rationale
Preview
Treatment Goals for Margaret Today
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Treatment Goals for Margaret Today
The treatment goals for Margaret today will be discontinuing her from using the Clonidine medication and use other treatments.
The Pharmacological Plan for Her Treatment
Reid (1985) defines Clonidine as an Alpha2 agonists drug, second-in-line drugs used to treat moderate and mild hypertension. For the case of Margaret, Clonidine should be avoided since its subjective functions usually affect geriatric patients. Clonidine decreases peripheral resistance, sympathetic tone, renal vascular resistance, and heart rate, which increases parasympathetic stimulation. The use of Clonidine presents some diverse effects, which include dry mouth, dizziness and headaches, and urinary problems. Margaret presented the same effects symptoms that are seen with the use of Clonidine. One of the effects, such as difficulty in urinating, is a significant problem since it can cause another illness addition.
Immediate discontinuation of Clonidine will also cause some problems for the patient. Clonidine being an alpha2 receptor, is needed by the body since lack of it causes impairment of the supportive nervous system's homeostatic balance, which could be the primary cause of hypertension, which is dangerous and life-threatening. The patient also complained of rapid tremors that she has been experiencing. These tremors that the patient has been experiencing should be treated using beta-adrenergic block, which could help treat tremors in the body's nervous system. According to Reid (1985), the use of both beta-adrenergic block and Clonidine could cause serious problems to the patient like the increase in the blood pressure, which is severe life-threatening hypertension.