Josie Bellings
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, My anxiety isnt really any better. I havent 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 its like. Yesterday, Robs says, Josie couldnt get through the day, so um, yeah, she took some of my moms alprazolam yesterday–. Josies mom interrupts to ask, But why did you even give her that drug? With her history of alcohol addiction! Shes been alcoholic since she was in her early 20s. And did she tell you her dad also had problems with addiction? Addiction? Robs asks Josies mom. Are you worried about addiction to this drug? He turns to you, agitated. Did you know Josies sometimes taking up to seven pills a day? At least that I know of. Is that overusing or addiction? Josie starts crying. But 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. Please….” she pleads. Questions Based on the initial letter of your last name, from your perspective as Josies psychiatric nurse practitioner, address the following in your initial post. Question 5 should be answered by everyone. Answer the question below, with 3 references recent. 1. GL: How does alprazolam work? What makes the medication so addictive?