Pharmacology Chapter 20
Intramuscular Oral Intravenous
Lorazepam can be administered to a client via which routes? (Select all that apply.)
eszopiclone
A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he has not slept well for the past 2 weeks. Which drug might the physician prescribe for this client?
"Older adults metabolize the drug more slowly, and half-lives are longer than in younger adults."
A 70-year-old male client asks why he is receiving a lower dose of zaleplon than his son. As part of the nurse's teaching plan, which explanation will the nurse give this client?
a dose adjustment should be made if these symptoms persist.
A 70-year-old patient has just started taking lorazepam 10 days ago for anxiety issues related the death of her husband. She is staying with her daughter for a couple of weeks. The patient's daughter has noticed that her mother is having difficulty walking and seems to be confused at times and calls the clinic to report this to the nurse. The nurse will inform the daughter that:
Benzodiazepine toxicity
A 75-year-old client is brought to the emergency department by the family. The family relates that the client has confusion, seizures, and abnormal perception of movement. When the nurse looks at the medication that the family has brought to the ED, the nurse discovers that twice the number of tablets are missing from the vial as there should be if the prescription orders were being followed. What should the nurse suspect is wrong with this client?
The newborn can develop withdrawal symptoms.
A benzodiazepine is prescribed for a pregnant woman with insomnia. When describing the effects on the newborn, which would the nurse include?
Risk for injury
A client appears very drowsy at bedtime and is difficult to arouse. The client is receiving Halcion 0.25 mg PO at bedtime. Based on these findings, what would be the best nursing diagnosis for this client?
Administer the medication and monitor the client's status closely
A client has been admitted to the emergency department in convulsions and been prescribed 200 mg amobarbital (Amytal sodium) IV STAT. What is the nurse's best action?
Administer the medication as prescribed
A client is experiencing acute anxiety and the nurse has received an order for diazepam 4 mg PO STAT. What is the nurse's best action?
"Be sure not to stop the drug abruptly."
A client is prescribed an anxiolytic agent. What would be most important for the nurse to include in the teaching?
bradycardia.
A client is receiving a barbiturate intravenously. The nurse would monitor the client for:
Benzodiazepine overdose
A client presents at the emergency department with respiratory depression and excessive sedation. The family tells the nurse that the client has been taking medication throughout the evening. What would the nurse suspect?
Buspirone
A client with a high-pressure job temporarily requires an anxiolytic that has no sedative properties. What medication is most likely to meet this client's needs?
Client is diagnosed with hepatitis C.
A nurse obtains a health history from a client who has been prescribed temazepam. Which finding would require immediate follow-up by the nurse?
Headache Sedation Light-headedness Dizziness
A nurse should recognize which as common early reactions caused by anxiolytics? (Select all that apply.)
True
Respiratory distress is a contraindication for the use of barbiturates.
Comatose client
The nurse should not administer sedatives or hypnotic drugs to which client?
Increased risk for central nervous system depression
A patient admitted to the health care facility for alcohol withdrawal has been prescribed an antianxiety medication. Why should the nurse suggest the patient stop consuming alcohol while therapy is ongoing?
Provide back rubs
A patient admitted to the health care facility for insomnia related to stress is prescribed a sedative. What intervention should the nurse perform to promote the effects of the sedative?
respiratory disturbances and partial airway obstruction.
A 28-year-old patient is to receive a dose of lorazepam intravenously for sedation during a procedure. The nursing priority would be to assess for:
"It will not produce sedation like benzodiazepines."
A client's medication regimen for treatment of anxiety has been changed from a benzodiazepine to buspirone (BuSpar). The client asks the nurse what makes this medication safer than the benzodiazepine the client has taken. What is the nurse's best response?
"Long-term use of benzodiazepines can result in dependency."
A client's medication regimen for treatment of anxiety has been changed from a benzodiazepine. The client asks the nurse what likely prompted the health care provider to change the medication. What is the nurse's best response?
oral contraceptive.
A decrease in dosage of a prescribed benzodiazepine most likely would be necessary if a client was also taking:
"Benzodiazepines may cause physiologic dependence, and withdrawal symptoms will occur if the drug is stopped abruptly."
A female client is prescribed a benzodiazepine for anxiety. She asks the nurse if she can stop the drug when she feels better. What is the nurse's best response?
Diazepam
A group of nursing students answers correctly if they identify which medication as the prototype benzodiazepine?
"This type of medication is typically prescribed to treat excess anxiety that interferes with daily activities."
A hospitalized client asks the nurse why the health care provider prescribed an anxiolytic medication. What is the nurse's best response?
Whether the client is experiencing drug intoxication or withdrawal
A male client is admitted to the emergency department via ambulance. He is attempting to pull out his IV line, exhibiting symptoms of agitation, and thrashing about. The physician orders a benzodiazepine-type sedative. What information is needed prior to administration of the drug?
The risks of injuries if mental and physical responses are slowed by drugs
A male patient is being discharged home from the hospital after having pneumonia. At home, the patient will be taking the same drugs he was taking before he was hospitalized. These drugs include an anti-anxiety medication and a medication for insomnia. During the home care nurse's initial visit, what should the nurse review with the patient?
nausea
A nurse has been taught to observe for adverse reactions whenever administering a medication. One non-nervous system reaction after giving a sedative is:
respiratory depression
A nurse is administering a prescribed dose of chlordiazepoxide to a client. The nurse should closely assess the client for what adverse reaction?
Anxiety, nausea, and vomiting
A nurse is caring for a patient who has just been transported to the operating room. Twenty minutes prior to leaving for the operating room, this patient was medicated with topical promethazine. What is the rationale for giving promethazine prior to surgery?
Headache
A nurse is caring for a patient who is being administered alprazolam. What initial adverse reaction of alprazolam should the nurse assess for?
Induces sleep
A nurse is caring for a patient who is prescribed flurazepam. Which is an effect of flurazepam?
Have resuscitative equipment ready.
A nurse is caring for an elderly patient undergoing antianxiety treatment. The patient is to be administered antianxiety drugs parenterally. What precautions should be taken by the nurse?
Have the client void.
A nurse is preparing to administer an anxiolytic to a client. What would be most appropriate for the nurse to do before administering the drug?
paradoxical reaction
A nurse knows that when elderly clients take a sedative or hypnotic, they are at increased risk for oversedation. When they become very confused and demonstrate marked excitement, this is known as which type of reaction?
avoid driving until he is aware of the adverse effects.
A truck driver has been diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and lorazepam has been prescribed. The client asked the nurse how this medication will affect his job. The nurse would advise him how?
Phenobarbital
After reviewing the various drugs that are classified as barbiturates, a student demonstrates understanding when identifying which as the prototype?
Falls risk assessment
An older adult client diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder is prescribed a benzodiazepine. The nurse caring for the client knows to include what intervention in the client's care plan?
Confusion
An older adult client is prescribed a sedative for the treatment of insomnia. The nurse would suspect that the client is experiencing an adverse reaction to the drug based on assessment of which of the following?
Alcohol withdrawal Seizures Panic attacks
Anxiolytic drugs can be used in the management of which conditions? (Select all that apply.)
False
Barbiturates are considered the sedative and hypnotic drugs of choice.
Less central nervous system depression
Buspirone has been prescribed for a client with anxiety. When providing health education, the nurse should describe what benefit of this medication over other anxiolytics?
Falls
Clients taking benzodiazepines, especially older adult clients, are at high risk for which effect?
False
Eszopiclone is thought to react with norepinephrine to achieve its action.
Abnormal anxiety is prolonged and impairs normal function.
How should the nurse explain the major difference between normal and abnormal anxiety?
Decreased cardiac workload
In addition to relieving agitation and anxiety, what is a rationale for using benzodiazepines in the treatment of a critically ill client?
paradoxical excitement
One week ago, a 74-year-old was started on a benzodiazepine for the treatment of an anxiety disorder. The client comes into the clinic for a follow-up visit and states feeling nervous, is having trouble sleeping, and feels hyperactive. What does the nurse understand may be occurring as a result of this medication?
Decreased anxiety
The client is scheduled for surgery. The nurse administers diazepam (Valium) preoperatively for what purpose?
antihistamines
The client reports using an over-the-counter (OTC) drug to treat insomnia. What classification of OTC medications is often used for this purpose?
Increased sedative effect
The client suffers from GERD and diverticulosis and has been admitted to a medical floor. The admitting physician orders cimetidine and a sedative to calm the client. What should the nurse be concerned about?
Monitor for increased signs of confusion or forgetfulness.
The daughter of an older adult client asks the nurse if her father should be aware of any special precautions while taking lorazepam (Ativan). What is the nurse's best response?
paradoxical excitement, which is the opposite reaction than what was expected
The nurse gives a 68-year-old client diphenhydramine to help the client sleep the night before surgery. At midnight, the nurse notes the client is awake and agitated. What pharmacologic principle would be the cause of this reaction?
severe insomnia for the past several nights
The nurse is assessing a client who has been prescribed lorazepam. Which of the client's current signs and symptoms should cause the nurse to suspect that the client is experiencing withdrawal?
Agitation, confusion, and seizures
The nurse is caring for a client treated with flumazenil for benzodiazepine toxicity. After administering flumazenil what should the nurse carefully assess for?
"I take an over-the-counter antihistamine each day for my allergies."
The nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed oxazepam. What statement by the client would suggest an increased risk of CNS depression to the nurse?
Blood pressure
The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving an intravenous barbiturate. What assessment should the nurse prioritize?
Blood pressure Respiratory rate Skin temperature and color
The nurse is doing a physical assessment on admission of a client diagnosed with elevated blood pressure due to anxiety. What are the most important physical assessments for a nurse to perform? Select all that apply.
1 to 5 minutes
The nurse is preparing to administer prescribed diazepam intravenously to a client. How soon after administration does the nurse expect to observe onset of action?
the importance of taking the drug immediately before going to bed
The nurse is providing education to a client who has been prescribed eszopiclone. What information should the nurse include?
dependence
The nurse is providing health education for a client who has been prescribed a benzodiazepine. What adverse effect should the nurse discuss in the teaching?
Depression of the cerebral cortex
The nurse is providing health education to a client who has been prescribed a barbiturate. The nurse should describe what mechanism of action?
Insomnia
The nurse is reviewing a client's current drug regimen and notes that the client takes 30 mg flurazepam daily. The nurse should suspect what health problem?
Urinary retention Nausea Nightmares Headache
The nurse is reviewing signs and symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal with a client who has taken diazepam daily for several years. The nurse should describe which possible effects of benzodiazepine withdrawal? Select all that apply.
Ask the client about experiencing increased anxiety, difficulty concentrating, or tremors.
The nurse obtains the following vital signs on a client: BP 160/85, P 90, RR 24. The client is recently divorced and reports taking alprazolam for the past seven weeks but stopped the medication yesterday. What is the nurse's first action?
Opioid analgesics should be used cautiously. Alcohol use can increase sedative effects.
The nurse should include which client teaching points when discussing the use of sedatives or hypnotics, and interactions with other drugs? (Select all that apply.)
Temazepam (Restoril) Triazolam (Halcion)
What are examples of benzodiazepine-type hypnotic and sedative drugs? (Select all that apply.)
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) Zolpidem (Ambien) Zaleplon (Sonata)
What are examples of nonbenzodiazepine-type hypnotic and sedative drugs? (Select all that apply.)
"When did you have your last drink of alcohol?"
What assessment question would be most appropriate when providing care for a client newly prescribed chlordiazepoxide?
Alprazolam (Xanax) Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) Lorazepam (Ativan)
What exerts its anxiolytic effects by potentiating the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)? (Select all that apply.)
Buspirone
Which agent has no sedative, anticonvulsant, or muscle relaxant properties but does reduce the signs and symptoms of anxiety?
Buspirone
Which drug used to treat anxiety would be appropriate for a client who is a school teacher and is concerned about feeling sedated at work?
Raise the siderails of the bed. Advise client to call for assistance. Observe the client for 1 to 2 hours after the medication administration to evaluate the effect
Which interventions should be included in a nursing diagnosis of risk for injury for client who has received a hypnotic? Select all that apply.
barbiturates
Which medications are capable of central nervous system depression, hypnosis, deep coma, respiratory depression, and prescribed infrequently?
9 PM
Zolpidem is prescribed for a hospitalized 58-year-old client having difficulty falling asleep at night. What is the best time for the nurse to administer this medication?
