Nokea
A nurse is administering an antianxiety agent that exerts its anxiolytic effects by potentiating the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Which of the following might the nurse be administering? Select all that apply.
- A. Alprazolam
- B. Buspirone
- C. Hydroxyzine
- D. Chlordiazepoxide
- E. Lorazepam
Correct Answer: A,D,E
Rationale: Benzodiazepines like alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, and lorazepam exert their anxiolytic effects by potentiating the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Nonbenzodiazepines exert their effects in different ways.
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A client who is receiving a benzodiazepine tells the nurse that his mouth feels really dry. Which of the following would the nurse include in the teaching plan for this client?
- A. Try drinking about 8 ounces of water at least every 2 hours.
- B. Sucking on hard sugarless candy might help you.
- C. Make sure you eat a lot of green leafy vegetables.
- D. Change your position slowly as you get out of bed.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For dry mouth, the nurse should suggest sucking on hard, sugarless candies or chewing sugarless gum. Frequent sips of water would also help, but drinking 8 ounces of water every 2 hours could lead to fluid overload. Eating green leafy vegetables would help with constipation. Changing positions slowly would be appropriate if the client reported dizziness or lightheadedness.
A nurse is administering an antianxiety agent to a client. The nurse understands that long-term use of which of the following anxiolytics would be most likely to lead to physical or psychological tolerance? Select all that apply.
- A. Alprazolam
- B. Buspirone
- C. Hydroxyzine
- D. Chlordiazepoxide
- E. Doxepin
Correct Answer: A,D
Rationale: Although long-term use of benzodiazepines such as alprazolam and chlordiazepoxide and nonbenzodiazepines such as buspirone, hydroxyzine, and doxepin can result in physical or psychological dependence, benzodiazepines are more likely to result in physical dependence and tolerance.
The nurse is assessing an infant at a well-child visit and notices that the infant has been losing weight and is lethargic. The mother is breastfeeding the child. The nurse questions the mother about any medications that she might be taking. Which of the following, if being taken by the mother, would alert the nurse to a problem? Select all that apply.
- A. Alprazolam
- B. Buspirone
- C. Hydroxyzine
- D. Chlordiazepoxide
- E. Lorazepam
Correct Answer: A,D,E
Rationale: Benzodiazepines like alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, and lorazepam taken by a breastfeeding mother can result in lethargy and weight loss in the infant. Buspirone and hydroxyzine do not appear to have the same effect.
A nurse is preparing a teaching plan for a client who is prescribed an anxiolytic. As part of the plan, the nurse addresses medications that should be avoided to reduce the risk of increased CNS depression and sedation. Which of the following would the nurse include? Select all that apply.
- A. Alcohol
- B. Analgesics
- C. Digoxin
- D. Tricyclic antidepressants
- E. Antipsychotics
Correct Answer: A,B,D,E
Rationale: Alcohol, analgesics, tricyclic antidepressants, and antipsychotics should be used with caution with anxiolytics due to increased CNS depression and increased risk of sedation.
A client who is prescribed an anxiolytic tells the nurse that she is constipated. Which of the following would be most appropriate for the nurse to suggest? Select all that apply.
- A. Stop taking the drug.
- B. Increase fluid intake.
- C. Increase fiber intake.
- D. Ask to have the drug given by injection.
- E. Take the drug on an empty stomach.
Correct Answer: B,C
Rationale: Clients receiving an anxiolytic should be advised to increase fluid and fiber intake to address constipation. The drug should not be stopped or changed to an injectable form. Taking the drug on an empty stomach may lead to GI upset.