I am always interested in continuing education in the areas of health, wellness, nutrition and mental health. Your course was well written, well organized and helpful in meeting state licensure requirements.
Don't Get "Psyched Out" by Psych Meds
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Course applies toward state CE requirements and hours needed for your FL RN license renewal. View Terms

This course is guaranteed to meet or exceed your expectations for convenience and quality. View Terms
Very well written, easy to digest, time efficient, and straight to the point. Thank you!
I appreciate the convenience of the course being online and accessible through my phone and that it directly reports to support mandated education requirements.
The course was well organized and helpful in meeting state licensure requirements. I found the content to be very informative and practical.
Learn about medications for geriatric psychiatric needs, addressing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Understand drug considerations for antipsychotics and mood stabilizers in older adults.

Don't Get "Psyched Out" by Psych Meds
Learn about medications for geriatric psychiatric needs, addressing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Understand drug considerations for antipsychotics and mood stabilizers in older adults.
Nationally & state accredited
Course Features
What you'll learn
Pharmacist Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to
Describe the prevalence and pathophysiology of schizophrenia
Identify the side effect profiles of first-generation antipsychotics among the elderly
Discuss the role of second-generation antipsychotics
Compare the effects of different mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder
Pharmacy Technician, Nurse, and Dentist Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to:
Describe the prevalence and pathophysiology of schizophrenia
Review the mechanism of action of first-generation and second-generation antipsychotics
Identify the side effects to watch out for in elderly patients taking antipsychotics
Determine the drug considerations to be made for mood stabilizers
Course description
This activity presents an overview of medications that address the psychiatric needs of the geriatric population. It presents the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and shows how medications address psychosis. However, the elderly is at risk of increased antipsychotic sensitivity. As such, special drug considerations are made when prescribing and administering antipsychotics and mood stabilizers to older adults.
Course content
Course Details
Handout
Schizophrenia
Dopamine
Other receptors
When neurotransmitters are lacking
Excessive neurotransmitters
First Generation Antipsychotics(Atypical Antipsychotics) 1954-1975
D2 blockers
Prescribing notes
Second Generation Antipsychotics – (Atypical antipsychotics) 1990-present
Clozapine (Clozaril) is the best...but
SIDE EFFECT: Extrapyramidal symptoms:
Anticholinergic side effects
SIDE EFFECT: Tardive dyskinesia
TD treatment options
SIDE EFFECT: Metabolic Parameters
Monitoring Metabolic parameters – Recommendations
SIDE EFFECT: death
Black box for 2nd generation antipsychotics
So which is better 1st GEN or 2nd GEN
Sexual side effects
This will help you choose!
Mood Stabilizers
Lithium monitoring
Patient information --- Lithium
Side effects based on blood levels
Valproic Acid and Valproate
Divalproate (Depakote and Depakote-ER)
What your patients can expect from Divalproex:
Carbamazepine (Tegretol®)
Carbamazepine : Adverse effects
Lamotrigine (Lamictal®)
Dosage: Very complicated due to drug: drug interactions
Wrapping up mood stabilizers
Beer’s List -- Antipsychotics
References
Knowledge Check
Pre-test
Video: Don’t Get “Psyched Out” by Psych Meds!
Video
Transcript
Knowledge Check
Post-test
Course Evaluation
Post-survey
Course details
Explore more continuing education topics
Instructor
Peter A. Kreckel, RPh is a most unique breed of community pharmacist. He is a 1981 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He has practiced independent community pharmacy for his entire career. He began his teaching career at St. Francis University in 2005, in the Department of Physician Assistant Sciences. For the past 16 years, he has taught Pharmacology to over 700 Physician Assistant Science students in their didactic year. He teaches all disciplines year-round, from Antibiotic therapy to Ob-Gyn.
Ideal CE course for these professions
This continuing education course is especially relevant for these healthcare professions, but other professionals may also benefit
Accreditations

AchieveCE. Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement. 09/01/2025 to 08/31/2029. Provider ID# 386503
Frequently asked questions
How many CE credits does this course provide?
This course, "Don't Get "Psyched Out" by Psych Meds ", provides 1 contact hour of continuing education credit upon successful completion.
Is this course accredited?
Yes, this course is accredited by Dentistry, Nursing, Mental Health, Pharmacy. AchieveCE is an approved provider of continuing education for healthcare professionals.
Which professions is this course approved for?
This course is especially relevant for: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Dental Therapist, Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers, Pharmacist, Certified Nurse Midwife, Nursing Assistive Personnel, Expanded Function Dental Assistant, Dental Hygienist, Certified Nurse Aides, Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary, Advanced Dental Assistant, Registered Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Nurses, Forensic Nurse-CSA, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Psychiatric Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, APRN - Certified Nurse Midwife, Licensed Practical Nurse, Licensed Psychiatric Technician Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Dentist, Registered Nurse, Licensed Nursing Assistant, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Public Health Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse, Licensed Mental Health Counselor Intern, Dental Technician, Community Dental Health Coordinator, Nursing Home Administrator, Dental Lab, Denturist, Registered Dental Assistant, General Dentist, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant Radiographer, Dental Assistant. Other healthcare professionals may also benefit from this continuing education content.
How do I report my CE credits after completing this course?
Your credits are automatically and instantly reported to CE Broker and CPE Monitor upon successful completion. No manual reporting is required on your part.
Will I receive a certificate of completion?
Yes, you will receive a certificate of completion immediately after finishing the course and passing the assessment. The certificate can be downloaded and printed directly from your account.
What is your refund policy?
We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, you can request a full refund within 30 days of purchase.
How long do I have to complete this course?
You have unlimited time to complete the course at your own pace. Once purchased, the course is available in your account until its expiration date. You can pause and resume at any time.
Most helpful reviews
I am always interested in continuing education in the areas of health, wellness, nutrition and mental health. Your course was well written, well organized and helpful in meeting state licensure requirements.
Very well written, easy to digest, time efficient, and straight to the point. Thank you!
I appreciate the convenience of the course being online and accessible through my phone and that it directly reports to CEBroker to support mandated education requirements.
I really loved this information. I was hospitalized last year for almost a month and I noticed multiple medical errors (not being hooked up to my IV multiple times, given wrong medication which caused my sodium to be very low, etc.) which lengthened my stay. I can now define those exact errors and better understand what happened to me. I hate that these medical errors are so common and I appreciate how well laid out your breakdown and categorization of them was.
Very well written, easy to digest, time efficient, and straight to the point. Thank you!
I appreciate the convenience of the course being online and accessible through my phone and that it directly reports to CEBroker to support mandated education requirements.
I really loved this information. I was hospitalized last year for almost a month and I noticed multiple medical errors (not being hooked up to my IV multiple times, given wrong medication which caused my sodium to be very low, etc.) which lengthened my stay. I can now define those exact errors and better understand what happened to me. I hate that these medical errors are so common and I appreciate how well laid out your breakdown and categorization of them was.
Buy with confidence with money back guarantees

This course is guaranteed to meet or exceed your expectations for convenience and quality. View Terms

Includes all state CE requirements and hours needed for your license renewal. View Terms
Requirements & disclosures
Financial Disclosures
This activity was developed by AchieveCE free of any commercial support. The following individuals have indicated that they have no financial relationships with an ineligible company that may impact upon this activity:
Peter A. Kreckel, RPh - Content Expert and Faculty
Patricia Dunn, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC - Nurse Planner
Pete Kreckel, RPh - Pharmacist Planner
Gracielle Tubera - Content Reviewer
Luke Porter – Content Reviewer
Dianne Arroyo - Activity Publisher
Passing Grade
Participants must achieve a passing score on the activity post-test, which may be 70% or 80%, depending on the course. They must also complete an activity evaluation. There are no time limits and unlimited test-taking attempts. Credits will be reported automatically to CE Broker if your license information is entered correctly in your profile.
Hardware Requirements
Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.1+, iOS 10+, Android 4.3+
Software Requirements
Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Adobe Acrobat Reader
Network Requirements
Broadband Internet Connection: T1, Hi-speed DSL or Cable4G cellular connection
Save 70% or more with a membership


