Barbiturates Definition Definition Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical procedure in which a small, carefully controlled amount of electric current

is passed through the brain to treat symptoms associated with certain mental disorders. The electric current produces a convulsion for the relief of symptoms associated with such mental illnesses as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, acute psychosis, and catatonia. Purpose al are no longer routinely recommended for the treatment of insomnia because of their ability to cause dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal. These drugs also have significant side effects when taken in large doses and can cause respiratory failure and death. Description Injection of insulin Drawing up insulin from the vials 1 Clean the top of the insulin bottle with industrial methylated spirit. 2 Draw air into the syringe to the number of units of insulin required and inject this into the insulin bottle. 3 Draw the required dose of insulin into the syringe, and before withdrawing the needle from the insulin bottle, expel the air bubble if one has formed. If clear and cloudy insulins are to be mixed: 1 Inject the correct number of units of air first into the cloudy insulin bottle. 2 Withdraw the needle from the cloudy bottle. 3 Inject the air into the clear bottle, and withdraw the insulin into the syringe. 4 Finally, insert the needle into the cloudy bottle and withdraw the insulin. Injecting insulin 1 The skin needs to be clean, but application of spirit, which hardens the skin, is not necessary. 2 Stretching the skin at the injection site is the best way to obtain a painless injection; in thin people it may be necessary to pinch the skin between thumb and forefinger of the hand. 3 The needle should be inserted briskly at 90 degrees to the skin, to its whole length. 4 Inject the insulin by depressing the plunger. 5 Withdraw the needle briskly. Problems delusions, hallucinations, or restlessness. Dependence The adaptation of neurons and other physical processes to the use of a drug, followed by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is removed; physiological and/ or psychological addiction. Hidden historical risk factors the things we don t often think about can also contribute to a person s chances of becoming suicidal. A history of physical or sexual abuse during childhood has been associated with greater risk.5 A history of someone in the family who had attempted suicide, even very long ago, remains a strong factor. It should not be

surprising that certain historical factors, such as a person s prior attempts, remain a risk factor even decades later. Having a serious head injury or neurological disease also raise risks. Other factors, especially those that affect teens, will be discussed in other chapters. The important thing to remember is that there is help.side effects include fever, headache, anemia, allergic reactions, and liver damage. Interactions Patients should always tell their doctor and dentist when they are taking barbiturates. Barbiturates should generally not be taken with other drugs used to treat mental disorders. There are a number of drugs that barbiturates should not be combined with because the barbiturates may increase the metabolism of these drugs and thus, reduce the amount of these drugs available to be of benefit. These drugs include oral corticosteroids such as predisolone, methylprednisolone, prednisone, or dexamethasone, estrogen and oral contraceptives, blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin), the antibiotic doxycycline (Vibramycin), and anticonvulsants such as phenytoin (Dilantin). Barbiturates should not be combined with alcohol because the combination produces additive depressant effects in the central nervous system. Barbiturates may lower the amount of absorption of the vitamins D and K. Resources BOOKS Consumer Reports Staff. Consumer Reports Complete Drug Reference. 2002 ed. Denver: Micromedex Thomson Healthcare, 2001. Ellsworth, Allan J., and others. Mosby s Medical DrugAbuse is a complex psychosoci al problem that affects large numbers of adults as well as children throughout the world. It is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) under the heading of Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention. Although abuse was first defined with regard to children when it first received sustained attention in the 1950s, clinicians and researchers now recognize that adults can suffer abuse in a number of different circumstances. Abuse refers to harmful or injurious tlude not only the direct costs of immediate medical and psychiatric treatment of abused people but also the indirect costs of learning difficulties, interrupted education, workplace absenteeism, and long-term health problems of abuse survivors.