Pharm. ch. 12- CNS depressants & muscle relaxants

A patient is admitted to the emergency department after taking an overdose of a barbiturate 15 minutes before arrival. The nurse can anticipate that which drug will be prescribed?

Charcoal (activated charcoal) -no antidote for barbiturates; charcoal binds to the drug and prevents absorptions

A patient is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of benzodiazepine overdose. The nurse anticipates the health care provider will prescribe which antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?

Flumazenil (Romazicon)

During patient teaching, the nurse explains the difference between a sedative and a hypnotic with which statement?

"most drugs produce sedation at low doses and sleep, the hypnotic effect, at higher doses." -many drugs have both sedative and hypnotic properties; sedative properties at low doses; hypnotic properties at larger doses

Which considerations are important for the nurse to remember when administering a benzodiazepine as a sedative-hypnotic drug?

-the dose needs to be given about 1 hour before the patient's bedtime -the patient needs to be evaluated for the drowsiness that may occur the morning after a benzodiazepine is taken

The nurse will monitor the patients who is taking a muscle relaxant for which adverse effect?

CNS depression

The health care provider prescribes dantrolene (Dantrium) to a patient immediately after surgery. What condition does the nurse expect the patient has experienced?

Malignant hyperthermia -dantrolene is a direct acting skeletal muscle relaxant and is the drug of choice to treat malignant hyperthermia, a possible complication of generalized anesthesia

An intravenous dose of midazolam (Versed) has been prescribed for a patient before a colonoscopy. The nurse informs the patient that one of the most common adverse effects of this medication is what effect?

amnesia -versed is known to cause amnesia and anxiolysis (reduced anxiety) as well as sedation and is most commonly used preoperatively for certain procedures

The nurse is preparing to administer a medication for sleep. Which intervention applies to the administration of a non-benzodiazepine, such as zaleplon (sonata)?

because of their rapid onset, these drugs need to be taken just before bedtime

An older adult has been given a benzodiazepine for sleep induction, but the night nurse noted that the patient was awake most of the night, watching television and reading in bed. The nurse documents that the patient had had which type of reaction to the medicine?

paradoxical

A hospitalized patient is complaining of having difficulty sleeping. Which action will the nurse take first to address the problem?

provide an environment that is restful, and reduce loud noises

Which nursing diagnosis is appropriate for a patient who has just been administered a sedative-hypnotic drug?

risk for injury and falls -sedative-hypnotic drugs cause CNS depression

The nurse should monitor an older adult patient prescribed a benzodiazepine for treatment of insomnia for which potential adverse effect?

unsteady gait -doses for children and adults should be small with gradual increases to avoid ataxia (unsteady gait) and excessive sedation