A patient diagnosed with depression tells the nurse,"I want to try supplementing my selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with St.John's wort." Which action should the nurse take first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Research has suggested that St.John's wort is a mild inhibitor of serotonin reuptake and could lead to serotonin syndrome; this risk is increased if the patient is taking other medications that increase serotonin activity.Assessing the depression would be a secondary intervention.Aromatherapy has not been shown to be an effective adjunct or treatment for depression.Although a dosage reduction in her SSRI medication might reduce the risk of serotonin syndrome,this intervention is not in the nurse's scope of practice.

A Patient Diagnosed with Depression Tells the Nurse,"I Want to Try