Assignment:
CASE STUDY: Vernon Philips Vernon Philips is an overweight, chain-smoking 32-year-old male who has schizophrenia, is single, and lives with his maternal grandfather in a trailer in a rural area in the southern portion of Tennessee. He was recently laid off from his job at a chicken processing plant due to factory cutbacks. Vernon had been undergoing antipsychotic treatment for his schizophrenia for years (since his teens); he reports to not liking the medication he took before his most recent one, which made him "feel like blowing my head off with my revolver." He has since been taking phenothiazine for the last 8 years, and his schizophrenia has been well controlled, however, since losing his job, he's not been able to afford his medications, so he stopped taking his regular dose of phenothiazine.
As soon as he stopped taking his medication, he started experiencing new symptoms involving his jaw, lips and tongue, and he has also observed that he's suddenly developed pruritis after eating certain foods. Vernon's grandfather expressed some concern about Vernon's increasing lack of motivation and social isolation and is concerned about him regressing with other schizophrenia symptoms. Mr. Philips has also been trying to stop smoking without much success and reports to feeling frustrated about that. As an aside, you notice a pack of nicotine gum next to Vernon's ashtray.
1. From a pharmacokinetic perspective, what considerations arise as you review this case? What concerns/comments, if any, do you have? Explain and elaborate.
2. From a pharmacodynamic perspective, what considerations arise as you review this case? What concerns/comments, if any, do you have? Explain and elaborate.
3. What recommendations would you suggest regarding this case?
4. Support those recommendations with clear rationale and include examples.