Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology
Introduction
Regional pain disorder can traumatize patients for years if they do not receive the right treatment. Providers should make a careful analysis and prescribe effective medication to manage the pain. One of the best decisions is to prescribe Savella, which is effective in chronic pain management (Hollander et al., 2020). Providers should also educate patients to enhance compliance and trust. Clinicians should also observe ethical guidelines to enhance the quality of treatment. The prescription of Savella requires a careful analysis of patient outcomes to promote recovery and suppress side effects. Additionally, research has shown that a multidisciplinary approach to pain management can lead to better outcomes (Kerns et al., 2022). Furthermore, the use of Savella has been shown to be effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life in patients with regional pain disorder (Mehta et al., 2023).
Decision #1
The first decision is to prescribe Savella 12.5 mg orally once daily on day 1; followed by 12.5 mg BID on day 2 and 3; followed by 25 mg BID on days 4-7; followed by 50 mg BID thereafter.
Rationale
The rationale for making the decision and disregarding the other two options is to alter how the brain detects pain. According to the assessment, the patient is suffering from regional pain disorder. The condition causes patients to experience a low pain threshold in the brain as a result of the changes in the central nervous system and how it responds to pain (Staal et al., 2019). Consequently, patients of regional pain disorder are highly sensitive to pain due to the alterations in the neurotransmitter levels. Savella is an effective medication since it will interfere with the neurotransmitters thus reducing the sensitivity to pain. One of the effects of the drug is to inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake (Stahl, 2013). The drug is also responsible for triggering an analgesic effect on the nerve endings that are responsible for detecting pain. The general impact leads to relieving pain, enhance memory and reduce the level of fatigue (Stahl, 2013). Savella is thus an effective and compatible disease with the condition of the patient. Moreover, studies have shown that the use of Savella can lead to significant improvements in pain management and quality of life (Katz et al., 2022).
One of the major considerations while prescribing Savella to the patient is to provide information about the drug. For example, the patient should avoid taking other drugs or alcohol while on treatment (Stahl, 2013). Drug interaction may cause negative outcomes such as fainting, dizziness or death. It is also essential to stick to the treatment plan to avoid adverse effects. Furthermore, research has shown that patient education and counseling can improve adherence to treatment and outcomes (Mehta et al., 2023).
Projected Outcomes
The projected outcome after four weeks is that the severity of pain will decrease to 3 points on a scale of 1 to 10. A significant reduction in the severity of the pain should enhance the movement of the patient with minimal support. He should also go back to work even if it is of minimal participation. Savella should also generate a stable effect that will improve the mood of a patient (Birklein et al., 2018). During treatment, it is expected that the patient may experience side effects such as increased heart palpitations, reduced quality of sleep and bouts of sweating.
Actual vs. Projected Outcomes
While the patient reports to the clinic after four weeks, he is walking, with minimal limping, without crutches as compared to the initial visit to the clinic. According to the patient, the pain had abated significantly enabling him to walk and work without using crutches. This is according to the expectations after prescribing the medication. The patient reports that, however, the pain is severe in the morning hours compared to the evening. According to the patient, the pain is at level 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 compared to the expected level 3. He also indicated that in some instances his sleep was disrupted by intense pain.
Savella also causes a common side effect which includes bouts of sweating which can disrupt the quality of sleep (Birklein et al., 2018). According to the patient, the sweating has reduced quality of sleep. Savella increases heart palpitations which are responsible for disrupting sleep and triggering bouts of sweating. The blood pressure of the patient was 147/92mmhg while the pulse rate was 110 beats/ min. No suicidal or homicidal thoughts were reported. The side effects of the drug were expected, but they will be managed as the treatment progresses.
Decision #2
The decision #2 is inspired by the outcomes of the first decision and the side effects. The patient reported significant improvement which should be maintained in the next four weeks. One of the decisions could involve reducing the dosage to relieve the patient of the increasing heart palpitations, sweating and improve the quality of sleep (Birklein et al., 2018). However, reducing the drug instantly could lead to a relapse of the pain-causing more discomfort to the patient.
Therefore, the best decision is to increase the drug at bedtime to lower the chances of waking up due to intense pain at night while reducing the dosage in the morning. Savella 25mg orally in the morning and 50mg orally at bedtime is the best option for this decision to boost positive outcomes and manage the negative outcomes (Hollander et al., 2020). Research shows that the management of pain requires a critical adjustment of drugs since the pain may occur at different times causing a diverse impact on patients.
Changing the drug is not healthy since the current prescription is already generating the desired results. According to evidence-based practice, changing the drug can lead to side effects that can undermine the recovery process (Hollander et al., 2020). The current prescription will involve balancing between treatment and suppressing the negative outcome.
Projected Outcomes
The results of decision #2 include suppressing the pain further and allowing the patient to work and walk without any assistance. Another expectation is that the patient should experience a reduction in the heart palpitations. He should also experience a better quality of sleep and a reduction in the sweating episodes (Staal et al., 2019). For example, the patient should not complain of waking up at night due to pain since bedtime medication is high. A decrease in the side effects is essential especially in improving the quality of life of a person (Staal et al., 2019).
Actual vs. Projected Outcomes
The patient reports back to the clinic after four weeks. He is still walking without crutches which is a significant milestone in the treatment of pain. He also reports that he can participate in his workplace with minimal assistance. According to the patient, the severity of the pain is still at level 4 out of 10. The same outcome was experienced four weeks ago. It is easy to understand the results since the dosing changed to manage the side effects. Evidence-based practice demonstrates that reducing the dosage can interfere with the management of pain (Chevreau et al., 2017). A provider should thus strike a critical balance between managing pain and suppressing the side effects. Additionally, the patient reported that he did not wake up at night due to pain (Chevreau et al., 2017). His quality of sleep had improved but his heart palpitations and heart rate were still evident. He also reports that episodes of sweating had reduced. Another outcome is that the patient did not experience a difference in the severity of pain in the morning and evening. He also denied suicidal or homicidal ideation.
Decision #3
Decision #3 involved continuing with the current medication and dosing since it is generating significant positive progress. One of the major expected outcomes was to help the patient to walk and work without using crutches. The decision involves prescribing Savella 25mg orally in the morning and 50mg at bedtime.
During the prescription, it is essential to educate the patient that the treatment is trying to balance between side effects and treatment. The patient should also know that the drug is one of the best options available and that other drugs cause worse side effects (Goh et al., 2017). However, upon recovery, the side effects will abate naturally. It is not advisable to introduce a new drug at this stage since it can comprise treatment (Goh et al., 2017). The provider should also caution a patient against buying medication to treat side effects. However, the provider will take a precaution of examining the heart rate and pulse rate of a patient regularly (Goh et al., 2017). The purpose of regular checkups is to ensure he is within the normal limits.
Projected Outcomes
The patient should report back to the clinic after four weeks. The results include the ability to work and walk with minimal or no support. It is expected that the patient will rate the severity of pain at 3 out of 10. A reduction in the level of pain should allow the pain to participate in daily activities without struggling (Birklein et al., 2018). It is also expected the patient will indicate they had quality sleep since they did not have to wake up in the middle of the night due to pain (Birklein et al., 2018). Another projected outcome is that the heart rate and the palpitations will have normalized without severe bouts of sweating.
Actual vs. Projected Outcomes
The patient reports back to the clinic after four weeks. He reports that the pain had reduced to 3 out of 10 which is manageable. His blood pressure is at 120/84mmhg while the pulse rate is 86 beats per minute. He also reports no suicidal or homicidal ideation. The results and the projected outcomes have great similarities thus showing the treatment was effective. During the assessment, it is essential to alert him that other forms of therapy are necessary to manage the pain in the long-term (Hollander et al., 2020). For example, he needs heat and physical therapy and chiropractic.
Ethical Issues Affecting Treatment
Ethical issues affect treatment by ensuring that providers comply with various requirements to provide high-quality treatment (Stahl, 2013). One of the ethical issues is to educate the patient about the treatment to receive informed consent from them (Hollander et al., 2020). A provider should also ensure that all decisions are patient-centered with no intention to harm them. For example, the medication with the least side effects should be selected. Patient autonomy is also necessary to observe (Staal et al., 2019). Ethical requirements state that patients should not be forced or coerced. A clinician should also educate a patient and assess their condition to their safety.
Conclusion
Treatment and management of regional pain disorder require careful analysis and assessment. One of the best medications is Savella at various doses depending on the patient outcomes. Providers should also make decisions depending on the outcomes to improve positive results and minimize side effects. It is essential to educate a patient that they require other forms of treatment to manage the condition in the long-term. Ethical issues also affect communication and treatment. The purpose is to provide treatment to patients to ensure they carry out activities with minimal pain and support.
References:
Birklein, F., Ajit, S. K., Goebel, A., Perez, R. S., & Sommer, C. (2018). Complex regional pain syndrome phenotypic characteristics and potential biomarkers. Nature Reviews Neurology, 14(5), 272. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2018.20
Chevreau, M., Romand, X., Gaudin, P., Juvin, R., & Baillet, A. (2017). Bisphosphonates for treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type 1: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials versus placebo. Joint Bone Spine, 84(4), 393-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2017.03.009
Goh, E. L., Chidambaram, S., & Ma, D. (2017). Complex regional pain syndrome: a recent update. Burns & Trauma, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41038-016-0066-4
Hollander, M., de Jong, J., Onghena, P., & Vlaeyen, J. W. (2020). Generalization of exposure in vivo in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type I. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 124, 103511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2019.103511
Katz, D. L., & Finnerup, N. B. (2022). Pharmacological management of chronic pain. Lancet Neurology, 21(1), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00351-5
Kerns, R. D., & Turk, D. C. (2022). Psychological and behavioral assessment and treatment of chronic pain. Journal of Pain Research, 15, 1275-1295. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S342369
Mehta, N., & Gupta, A. (2023). Multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain management. Journal of Pain Research, 16, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S384134
Staal, J. B., Klomp, F. P., & Nijhuis-van der Sanden, M. W. (2019). Pain exposure to physical therapy in complex regional pain syndrome: promising enough to warrant further investigation. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, 66(1), 115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12630-018-1174-3
Stahl, S. M. (2013). Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (4th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
