A Patient Diagnosed with Major Depression Began Taking Escitalopram (Lexapro)5

question 22

Multiple Choice

A patient diagnosed with major depression began taking escitalopram (Lexapro) 5 days ago.The patient now says,"This medicine isn't working." The nurse's best intervention would be to:

• A) discuss with the health care provider the need to increase the dose.
• B) reassure the patient that the medication will be effective soon.
• C) explain the time lag before antidepressants relieve symptoms.
• D) critically assess the patient for symptoms of improvement.

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Definitions:

Early Adolescence

A developmental phase marking the transition from childhood to adolescence, often between the ages of 10 and 14, characterized by rapid physical, cognitive, and emotional changes.

Late Adolescence

A developmental stage occurring from roughly ages 15 to 19, marking the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Prenatal Exposure

The impact of external factors, such as drugs, environmental toxins, or diseases, on an embryo or fetus during pregnancy.

Testosterone

A steroid hormone produced primarily in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, impacting sexual development, muscle mass, and bone density.