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Briefly describe two categories of adjuvant drugs and how they work to relieve pain.
- A. Antidepressants enhance pain relief by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine levels; anticonvulsants stabilize nerve activity to reduce neuropathic pain.
- B. Opioids block pain signals; NSAIDs reduce inflammation.
- C. Antihistamines reduce allergic responses; antipyretics lower fever.
- D. Muscle relaxants reduce spasms; sedatives promote sleep.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Antidepressants (e.g., tricyclics) modulate neurotransmitters to enhance pain relief, especially for chronic pain. Anticonvulsants (e.g., gabapentin) stabilize overactive nerves, reducing neuropathic pain.
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Fill in the blank. The term for chronic inability to fall asleep or stay asleep is
- A. insomnia
- B. narcolepsy
- C. sleep apnea
- D. bruxism
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Insomnia refers to the chronic difficulty in falling or staying asleep, leading to poor sleep quality.
Your patient reports having severe pain at an 8 on a scale of 0 to 10. You notice that her vital signs are all within normal range. Which of the following statements accurately explains the normal vital signs?
- A. The patient is not really hurting if the blood pressure and pulse are not elevated.
- B. Acute pain does not generally elevate the vital signs.
- C. The body learns to adapt to chronic pain and therefore does not elevate the vital signs.
- D. The patient is having nociceptor pain, which does not affect the vital signs.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chronic pain, unlike acute pain, often does not elevate vital signs as the body adapts over time, explaining the normal vital signs in this scenario.
Fill in the blank. Confusion and disorientation in elderly patients that occur in the evening hours is commonly known as
- A. sundowning
- B. insomnia
- C. delirium
- D. narcolepsy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sundowning is the term for confusion and disorientation in elderly patients that worsens in the evening or at night.
Fill in the blank. The intolerable crawling sensation in the legs that results in an irresistible urge to move legs is known as
- A. restless legs syndrome
- B. sleep apnea
- C. bruxism
- D. narcolepsy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Restless legs syndrome causes an uncomfortable crawling sensation in the legs, leading to an urge to move them, often disrupting sleep.
Common aspirin has more than one classification and is used for different problems. Which of the following is(are) not a classification of aspirin?
- A. Antipyretic
- B. Analgesic
- C. Antihistamine
- D. Antiplatelet
- E. Anti-inflammatory
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Aspirin is classified as an antipyretic, analgesic, antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory drug, but not as an antihistamine.