Case Study: Prescribed Drugs with CAMs
A 35-year-old male, Mr. NX, presents to your clinic today with complaints of back pain and “just not feeling good.” Regarding his back, he states that his back pain is a chronic condition that he has suffered with for about the last 10 years. He has not suffered any specific injury to his back. He denies weakness of the lower extremities, denies bowel or bladder changes or dysfunction, and denies radiation of pain to the lower extremities and no numbness or tingling of the lower extremities. He describes the pain as a constant dull ache and tightness across the low back.
He states he started a workout program about 3 weeks ago. He states he is working out with a friend who is a body builder. He states his friend suggested taking Creatine to help build muscle and Coenzyme Q10 as an antioxidant so he started those medications at the same time he began working out. He states he also takes Kava Kava for his anxiety and garlic to help lower his blood pressure.
His historical diagnoses, currently under control, are:
Type II diabetes since age 27
High blood pressure
Recurrent DVTs
His prescribed medications include:
Glyburide 3 mg daily with breakfast
Lisinopril 20 mg daily
Coumadin 5 mg daily
Directions:
*****This Assignment may be submitted in a PowerPoint presentation with at least 10 slides or as an APA formatted paper of no more than five (5) pages excluding title page and references.
Based on the above case study, address each section of the Unit 9 Assignment template. Be sure to first view the Unit 9 Assignment Grading Rubric (found in the Grading Rubrics section under Course Home) and use it to guide your completion.
- Download the Unit 9 Assignment template or make a PowerPoint presentation.
- Rename the downloaded template file as “FirstInitial+LastName_ MN553_Unit9.docx” (e.g., JDoe_MN553_Unit4.docx).
Template for assisgnment
Case Study: MN553 Advanced Pharmacology
Unit 9 Case Study
“Prescribed Drugs with CAMs”
Student Name
Date of Submission
This paper addresses a pharmacological management plan for Mr. NX, including consideration of possible contraindications for CAMs, prescriptive, and non-prescriptive recommendations for management of acute pain and other ongoing disease processes, followed by evaluation strategies.
Pharmacological Management Plan
CAMs Contraindicated with Current Prescriptions
CAMs Contraindicated with Diagnoses
Prescription for Back Pain
Changes in Prescribed Drugs
Follow-Up Evaluations
Time-Frame
Strategies for Evaluating Side/Adverse Effects
Strategies for Evaluating Effectiveness
References (examples)
Romm, A. (2011). Overprescribing of antibiotics for children’s upper respiratory infections. Alternative options to consider. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 17(6), 306–309. Retrieved from
Singh, J. A., Furst, D. E., Bharat, A., Curtis, J. R., Kavanaugh, A. F., Kremer, J. M.,…Saag, K. G. (2012). Update of the 2008 American College of Rheumatology recommendations for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologic agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Health Research and Quality, National Guideline Clearinghouse. Retrieved from
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The case study presented involves a 35-year-old male who presents with chronic back pain and other medical conditions. The patient is currently on prescribed medications and has also started taking CAMs (Complementary and Alternative Medicines) for his back pain. As a medical professor, it is important to address each section of the Unit 9 Assignment template and provide an appropriate pharmacological management plan considering all the factors involved.
Answer:
Based on the given case study, it is important to consider potential contraindications associated with CAMs and their interactions with the patient’s current medications. The CAMs in question that the patient is taking include Creatine, Coenzyme Q10, Kava Kava, and garlic, which can potentially interact with the patient’s prescribed medications for Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and recurrent DVTs.
It is essential to review the contraindications associated with the patient’s current medications and how CAMs can contribute to adverse health effects or interact with the patient’s current medications. For instance, non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants such as Dabigatran can interact with garlic and Kava Kava, which can potentially increase the risk of bleeding. Similarly, Creatine may increase the risk of kidney and liver damage when combined with Lisinopril, a medication prescribed for high blood pressure.
Therefore, it is recommended to evaluate the patient’s adherence to his current medications and their potential interactions with CAMs. Patients must be made aware of the risks associated with such interactions and advised to avoid taking any new medications or supplements without consulting their healthcare provider.
It is essential to evaluate the patient’s acute pain and other ongoing health conditions while making prescriptive recommendations for the effective management of such issues. Appropriate non-pharmacological recommendations for managing the patient’s back pain such as physical therapy, exercise, and stress-reducing techniques should also be considered.
The patient may need a follow-up evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the recommended treatment plan and monitor any side effects associated with such treatment. A time-frame must be established for any follow-up evaluations or changes to the current medication regimen.
In conclusion, pharmacological management plans should consider all aspects of a patient’s medical history, current medication regimen, and CAM use. Healthcare providers must accurately evaluate the potential risks associated with interacting medications and make appropriate recommendations for managing pain and other medical conditions.
