Case Study: Closer Look at a Medication Regimen

Case Study: Closer Look at a Medication Regimen Background History NB is a 40 year old, 5 foot 7 inch, 148 lbs (67kg) African American female admitted through the emergency department (ED) with loss of consciousness, possibly related to a drug overdose. Subsequently, she was transferred to the medical/surgical floor with a medical diagnosis of renal failure and rhabdomyolysis due to immobility and cocaine. Her histories were ascertained from her boyfriend. Past medical history includes liver disease and …

…to the patient's risk for neurological damage. The patient remains at a high risk for potentially severe neurological damage due to the individual use and the combination of numerous medications that can, or actually cause, CNS depression. Furthermore, although only six of the medications were discussed, others remain on the list and have the potential to cause additional adverse interactions. Therefore, of most important concern is that the patient could be over-medicated for unjustifiable reasons.