Psychiatry Education Forum Academy

A Rapid-Decision Series

Managing Psychopharmacology Adverse Events

Point-of-care guidance for the adverse effects of psychiatric medications. Every chapter opens with what to do now, what not to do, and when to send the patient to the emergency department.

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At the bedside · from Chapter 1

Suspected lithium toxicity: the next ten minutes

Do now

Hold the next lithium dose. Do not wait to see the patient first.
Triage red, amber or green on the patient, whatever the level says.

Do not

Advise drinking large volumes of water to “flush out” lithium.
Act on a single level without the time of the last dose and the time of the draw.

Emergency department now Same-day assessment Outpatient, with a safety net

Rapid Decision Series 1 Antipsychotics Complete · 21 chapters Rapid Decision Series 2 Antidepressants Complete · 31 chapters Rapid Decision Series 3 · New Mood Stabilizers Sections 1–4 live · releasing to Oct 31

Rapid Decision Series 4–5 Anxiolytics & Hypnotics · Stimulants & ADHD Coming soon

Start from the problem in front of you

The questions clinicians bring most often, one click from the chapter that answers them.

Lithium level high Rash on lamotrigine Ammonia on valproate Serotonin syndrome Bleeding risk with an SSRI Akathisia QTc on an antipsychotic Clozapine and constipation

Rapid Decision Series 3 · Sections 1–4 live

Managing Mood Stabilizer Adverse Events

Lithium, valproate, lamotrigine, carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine. Six sections, one every few days.

Ch 12–14 · Ch 13 free →

Tue, Oct 27

Carbamazepine & Oxcarbazepine

Ch 15–18

Sat, Oct 31

Across All Mood Stabilizers

Ch 19–21

Read Table of Contents here

Rapid Decision Series 1

Complete · 21 chapters

Antipsychotics

Movement Disorders · Ch 1–5

Acute dystonia, akathisia, drug-induced parkinsonism, tardive dyskinesia and NMS.

Metabolic & Endocrine · Ch 6–10

Weight gain and metabolic syndrome, new-onset diabetes, dyslipidemia and hyperprolactinemia.

Cardiac & Autonomic · Ch 11–12

QTc prolongation and orthostatic hypotension.

The Clozapine Set · Ch 13–17

Agranulocytosis, myocarditis, constipation and ileus, sialorrhea and seizures.

Other Systemic & Quick Reference · Ch 18–21

Sedation, sexual dysfunction, edema and the quick-reference grid.

View Rapid Decision Series 1

Rapid Decision Series 2

Complete · 31 chapters

Antidepressants

Serotonergic & Neuropsychiatric · Ch 1–7

Serotonin syndrome, activation, akathisia, the bipolar switch, tremor, bruxism and the EPS cluster.

GI, Sleep & Affect · Ch 8–11

Nausea, insomnia and vivid dreams, sedation, and emotional blunting.

Metabolic, Sexual & Long-Term · Ch 12–14

Weight gain, sexual dysfunction and PSSD, and fracture risk.

Cardiac, Autonomic & Bleeding · Ch 15–20

QTc and conduction, SNRI hypertension, orthostasis, sweating, urinary retention and bleeding risk.

Laboratory, Stopping & Switching · Ch 21–24

Hyponatremia, DILI, hyperbolic tapering and cross-taper safety.

Agent-Specific Sets · Ch 25–29

Bupropion, mirtazapine, the serotonin modulators, TCAs and MAOIs.

Uncommon & Quick Reference · Ch 30–31

The rare events worth recognising, and the matrix that maps every adverse effect to every commonly prescribed agent.

View Rapid Decision Series 2

Rapid Decision Series 3

Sections 1–4 live · releasing to Oct 31

Mood Stabilizers

Lithium: Acute Toxicity & Level Problems · Ch 1–3

Lithium toxicity and when to send to the ED (Chapter 1, free), unexpected levels and sick-day rules, and neurologic symptoms including encephalopathy, serotonin syndrome and NMS.

Live

Lithium: Long-Term Organ Effects · Ch 4–7

Polyuria and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, declining kidney function (Chapter 5, free), thyroid, calcium and parathyroid effects, and tremor, cognition, weight and skin.

Live

Valproate · Ch 8–11

Liver injury, pancreatitis and serious hypersensitivity, hyperammonemia, thrombocytopenia and bleeding, and weight, metabolic effects and hair loss (members).

Live

Lamotrigine · Ch 12–14

The rash, SJS/TEN and DRESS (members), starting and restarting the titration (Chapter 13, free), and HLH, aseptic meningitis and blood dyscrasias (members).

Live

Carbamazepine & Oxcarbazepine · Ch 15–18

Serious rash and HLA testing, hyponatremia, blood and liver toxicity, and drug interactions and autoinduction.

Tue, Oct 27

Across All Mood Stabilizers · Ch 19–21

Cardiac conduction, stopping safely, and the quick-reference monitoring and management grid.