Chapter 22: Anxiolytics and Antipsychotics

Which consideration would the nurse need to remember when preparing to administer haloperidol, a viscous liquid, intramuscularly?

Administer the medication using the Z-track technique.

Which statement explains why patients would be cautioned not to drink alcohol while taking benzodiazepines?

Alcohol combined with benzodiazepines may result in respiratory depression.

The nurse is caring for the patient whose medication regimen includes the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide. The nurse recognizes that the patient is mostlikely experiencing which condition?

Alcohol withdrawel

The patient with which condition is a poor candidate for therapy with diazepam to treat generalized anxiety disorder?

Alcoholism

Which phenomenon does the nurse recognize as a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

Hallucinations, chaotic thinking, and defective insight.

Which side effect would the nurse include when teaching a patient about the administration of fluphenazine?

Headache

Benzodiazepines fall under which Controlled Substance Schedule (CSS) category?

IV (4)

The nurse teaches the patient who is prescribed a benzodiazepine to avoid abrupt discontinuation of the drug after short-term use in order to avoid which symptom?

Insomnia

The caregiver of the patient with dementia asks the nurse the rationale for giving the patient a neuroleptic drug. The nurse bases the response on which understanding of the role of neuroleptics in the management of patients with dementia?

Modify psychotic behavior

In which clinical disorder must antipsychotic drugs be used with caution?

Parkinson's disease

The patient has a shuffling gait, pill-rolling motion of the hand, and bradykinesia. The nurse reports which condition to the health care provider?

Pseudoparkinsonism

Benzodiazepines may be prescribed for which condition?

Sedation and seizures.

Which symptom can be seen in the patient diagnosed with pseudoparkinsonism?

Shuffling gait, tremors at rest, and pill-rolling motion of the hands

Which statement explains why atypical antipsychotics are prescribed more often than typical antipsychotics?

There are fewer side effects with atypical antipsychotics.