Pharmacology Central Nervous System Stimulants
A 10-year-old boy is taking dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) daily for ADHD. At each clinic visit, the nurse's priority assessment would be a) Vision. b) height and weight. c) blood pressure. d) body temperature.
b) height and weight
A patient with narcolepsy is placed on a central nervous system stimulant for treatment of his narcolepsy. What is the central nervous system stimulant of choice to treat narcolepsy? a) Guarana b) Atomoxetine (Straterra) c) Caffeine d) Modafinil (Provigil)
d)Modafinil (Provigil)
Which of the following statements should be included in the teaching plan for a patient receiving methylphenidate (Ritalin)? a) "The drug may cause weight gain." b) "Adverse effects include hypertension and nervousness." c) "There is no risk of dependence." d) "The medication is usually taken just before bedtime."
b) Adverse effects include hypertension and nervousness
Most anorexiants are classified in which pregnancy category? (Choose one) a) Category B b) Category A c) Category C d) Category X
d) Category X
A nurse who provides care on a pediatric medicine unit has conducted a medication reconciliation of a recently-admitted patient. In light of the fact that the child takes methylphenidate (Ritalin), the nurse is justified in considering a history of what health problem? a) ADHD b) Obesity c) Respiratory depression d) Anxiety
a) ADHD
The nursing student learned in pharmacology class that drugs that affect the CNS do which of the following? (Check all that apply.) a) Alter sensation b) Lower glucose levels c) Alter mood d) Decrease K+ e) Alter the interpretation of information in the brain
a) Alter sensation c) Alter mood e) Alter the interpretation of information in the brain
A nurse is instructing a mother about a new drug her son was prescribed for ADHD. The nurse should include which of the following instructions? a) Always take the drug in the morning 30 to 45 minutes before breakfast and lunch. b) Always take the drug in the morning before breakfast and before going to bed at night. c) Always take the drug after breakfast and after lunch. d) Always take the drug 30 minutes before lunch and dinner.
a) Always take the drug in the morning 30 to 45 minutes before breakfast and lunch
A client comes into the emergency department. He is highly active, cannot sleep, and says his heart is pounding. On further questioning, he says he took several pills at a party and has felt this way ever since. What type of medication does the nurse suspect he could have taken? a) amphetamine b) anorexiant c) anaphylactic d) analeptic
a) Amphetamine
A nurse works at a weight management clinic. To which of the following overweight patients could the nurse safely administer dextroamphetamine? a) A 28-year-old African-American woman with hyperthyroidism b) A 48-year-old Caucasian man who has adult-onset diabetes c) A 38-year-old Caucasian woman with glaucoma d) A 60-year-old African-American man who experiences angina
b) A 48 year old Caucasian man who has adult-onset diabetes
The nurse has learned that there is a high incidence of suicidal ideation in children and adolescents when using which of the following drugs? a) dopram b) strattera c) nuvigil d) provigil
b) Strattera
The nurse practitioner knows not to prescribe an anorexiant for weight loss to which of the following patients? a) A patient with a history of kidney stones b) A patient with diverticulosis who takes a fiber supplement c) A patient with depression who takes an antidepressant d) A patient with diabetes who takes insulin
c) A patient with depression who takes an antidepressant
John is a 45-year-old man who is obese. He is coming to see the physician today about diet and medications to help him lose weight. He wants to be prescribed dextroamphetamine. Based on John's history, what would contraindicate the use of this medication? a) Use of CPAP at night for sleep apnea b) Shortness of breath with moderate activity c) Myocardial infarction 2 months previously d) Blood pressure of 118/72
c) Myocardial infarction 2 months previously
A patient has recently been placed on modafinil 200 mg PO qd daily. Modafinil (Provigil) is first-line pharmacologic therapy for which of the following? a) Schizophrenia b) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) c) Narcolepsy d) Anxiety
c) Narcolepsy
Which of the following is usually administered before, during, and after CNS stimulant administration to a patient with respiratory depression? (Choose one) a) Salmeterol b) Ipratropium c) Oxygen d) Albuterol
c) Oxygen
A patient taking modafinil (Provigil), a CNS stimulant, for narcolepsy has recently needed an increased dosage. At a follow-up visit, the patient is combative and confused, and has a low-grade fever. The nurse knows that this clinical presentation is most likely which of the following? a) Normal side effects of taking CNS stimulants b) A result of a concomitant infection c) Signs of toxicity from the medication d) Unrelated to taking this medication
c) Signs of toxicity from the medication
The nursing student learned in anatomy and physiology class that the nervous system has how many divisions? a) 4 b) 1 c) 3 d) 2
d) 2
When prescribing medications, the nurse practitioner knows that central nervous system stimulants can be used successfully for which of the following? (Select all that apply.) a) Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder b) Fatigue c) Narcolepsy d) Appetite stimulant e) Drug-induced respiratory depression f) Sleep apnea
a) Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder e) Drug-induced respiratory depression c)Narcolepsy f) Sleep apnea b) Fatigue
Prior to administering a CNS stimulant to reverse respiratory depression the nurse must ensure that the patient has which of the following? (Choose one) a) Patent airway b) Pulse less than 100 beats per minute c) Respiration greater than 24 breaths per minute d) Normal blood pressure
a) Patent airway
A patient with obesity returns to the clinic and informs the nurse that she has not lost any weight even though she has been taking a stimulant drug for 6 weeks. What is the most important thing for the nurse to teach this patient at this time? a) Reinforce prescribed dietary and exercise program for weight loss. b) Reinforce the reason for taking the drug. c) Reinforce the side effects of the drug. d) Reinforce the dose of the drug.
a) Reinforce prescribed dietary and exercise program for weight loss
The nurse is gathering a client's medication and cannot find the bottle for the methylphenidate, Daytrana. What is the best reason for this? a) This is a transdermal patch medication, so there is no pill bottle. b) Nurses often misplace medication bottles. c) This is an IV medication, so there is no pill bottle. d) This is an IM medication, so there is no pill bottle.
a) This is a transdermal patch medication, so there is no pill bottle
A mother brings her child to the clinic and informs the physician that he is having a difficult time paying attention in school, seems to be getting in trouble several times a day, and is acting very impulsive. The nurse can expect the physician to order which of the following drugs for this patient? select all that apply. a) methylphenidate b) diethylpropion c) armodafinil d) modafinil
a) methylphenidate
A 3-year-old child is brought to the pediatric clinic by his mother. She states, "I don't know what to do with him. He is in constant motion. He won't sit for more than 15 minutes and he is doing something else. He often throws his toys and yells loudly." The child is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Which of the following medications will be administered in conjunction with treatment? a) Ace inhibitors b) Central nervous system stimulants c) Central nervous system depressants d) MAO inhibitors
b) Central nervous system stimulants
When would treatment with medication be considered for a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Select all that apply. a) Before beginning psychotherapy b) When symptoms are moderate to severe c) Within 2 to 4 weeks of the onset of symptoms d) When symptoms interfere with social and academic functioning e) When symptoms interfere with behavioral functioning
b) When symptoms are moderate to severe d) When symptoms interfere with social and academic functioning e) When symptoms interfere with behavioral functioning
The parents of a child on methylphenidate (Ritalin) want to know why they need to withhold the medication during the summer months. What is the nurse's best response? a) "Withholding the medication will allow for stabilized cardiac function." b) "Withholding the medication will decrease the growth suppression." c) "Withholding the medication will assist in evaluating psychotherapy." d) "Withholding the medication will assist in better drug response."
b) Withholding the medication will decrease the growth suppression
A pediatric patient has been admitted to the floor and began on ritalin therapy for AHDH. The nurse knows that an important daily intervention for this patient would be which of the following? a) weigh the patient daily b) record a daily summary of child's behavior c) perform ROM exercises daily d) suction the patient daily
b) record a daily summary of child's behavior
Which of the following CNS stimulants is used in the treatment of obesity? (Choose one) a) Phentermine (Adipex-P) b) Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin) c) Methylphenidate (Concerta) d) Modafinil (Provigil)
d) Phentermine (Adipex-P)
A patient with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not had an adequate response to behavioral therapy. All the following medications would be acceptable for this patient, EXCEPT: a) Atomoxetine (Strattera) b) Methylphenidate (Ritalin) c) Amphetamine (Adderall) d) Phentermine (Ionamin)
d) Phentermine (Ionamin)
Anorexiants are primarily used for which of the purposes? (Choose one) a) Suppress the cardiovascular system b) Treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder c) Stimulate the respiratory system d) Suppress the appetite
d) Suppress the appetite
