Deck 13: Central and Peripheral Nervous System Medications

Question 1

The physician has ordered phenobarbital (Luminal)100 mg three times a day for a patient with seizures.To help the nurse develop an appropriate care plan for this patient,which best describes the action of this drug in the body?

A) It will increase urination for 2 hours after ingestion.
B) It will cause severe thirst and dryness of the mucous membranes.
C) It has a long duration and a sedative effect on the brain.
D) It will lower the seizure threshold.

Answer 1

It has a long duration and a sedative effect on the brain.

Question 2

A sedative-hypnotic drug may be prescribed for a patient with which condition?

A) Vertigo
B) Schizophrenia
C) Acute mania
D) A sleep disorder

Answer 2

A sleep disorder

Question 3

The nurse should include which instructions when teaching an adult patient about an antivertigo agent?

A) Some patients experience hyperactivity.
B) Take 30 to 60 minutes before airplane or boat departure.
C) Take 30 minutes after meals.
D) Do not take with dairy products.

Answer 3

Take 30 to 60 minutes before airplane or boat departure.

Question 4

The nurse instructs a patient about monoamine oxidase (MAO)inhibitors before discharge.The nurse tells the patient to avoid certain foods and beverages while she is on the MAO inhibitors because they could cause which problems?

A) An increase in appetite, leading to obesity
B) Severe psychosis
C) An increase in depressive behavior
D) Sudden and severe hypertension

Question 5

Which medication is classified as a benzodiazepine?

A) Lorazepam (Ativan)
B) Buspirone (BuSpar)
C) Benztropine (Cogentin)
D) Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

Question 6

What is the mechanism of action for antimigraine agents?

A) Blocking parasympathetic nerve impulses
B) Increasing cerebral blood flow
C) Constricting dilated cerebral arteries
D) Exerting a sympathomimetic effect

Question 7

The nurse is working with a patient who says he is hearing voices,and they are louder than they have been in the past.The patient has a history of taking phenothiazines but has not taken his medication for a few days.Which psychotic disorder does this patient have?

A) Manic-depression
B) Chronic depressive behavior
C) Schizophrenia
D) Acute depression

Question 8

The desired effect of an antidepressant drug will usually occur within which period?

A) 48 to 72 hours
B) 35 days
C) 3 to 4 weeks
D) 48 weeks

Question 9

A patient comes into the emergency department with status epilepticus in progress.The nurse expects the physician to order which drug for this condition?

A) Diazepam (Valium)
B) Clonazepam (Klonopin)
C) Ethotoin (Peganone)
D) Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)

Question 10

Which is the main action of benzodiazepines?

A) They slow REM sleep.
B) They depress the CNS.
C) They prolong the use of sleeping aids.
D) They prevent "hangovers."

Question 11

Which is the drug of choice for status epilepticus?

A) Tegretol
B) Phenobarbital
C) Klonopin
D) Valium

Question 12

CNS depression,decreased respiratory rate,constricted pupils,tachycardia,and areflexia are symptoms of overdose with which drugs?

A) Barbiturates
B) Serotonin (5HT) receptor agonists
C) Dopaminergic agents
D) Anticholinergic drugs

Question 13

The nurse gives a patient in the emergency department (ED)who has nausea and vomiting prochlorperazine (Compazine)IM,as ordered by the physician.The patient is discharged 2 hours after the administration of this medication.The nurse asks the friend of the patient to drive him home.This action is necessary for which reason?

A) The patient is too nervous after this ED visit.
B) The patient does drive a car, but he is too elderly.
C) The medication causes hyperactivity of the brain.
D) The patient should not operate a motor vehicle after receiving this medication.

Question 14

Clonazepam (Klonopin),a benzodiazepine,is used on certain patients with which disorders of the central nervous system?

A) Motion sickness
B) Parkinsonism
C) Myoclonic seizures
D) Chronic vertigo

Question 15

Long-term use of dopaminergic drugs often leads to which condition?

A) Muscle flaccidity
B) Migraine headaches
C) Incontinence
D) Tardive dyskinesia

Question 16

A patient comes to the clinic and tells the nurse she might be pregnant.She has migraine headaches.The physician prescribes dihydroergotamine (DHE 45).The nurse explains to the patient that this drug is being used for which reason?

A) This agent dilates vessels.
B) This agent does not have oxytocic effects.
C) This agent has no toxic effects.
D) This agent does not cause dependence.

Question 17

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)is an antiemetic; it is also used for which other conditions?

A) Headaches
B) Edema
C) Epistaxis
D) Rash

Question 18

Which statement is true regarding benzodiazepines?

A) These drugs are safe to use in pregnancy.
B) These drugs may be habit forming.
C) If a dose is forgotten, double the next dose.
D) Caffeine enhances the effect.

Question 19

Lithium is an antimanic drug that is used in the treatment of which condition?

A) Clinical chronic depression
B) Acute depression
C) Prolonged sleep psychosis
D) Manic-depressive psychosis

Question 20

The nurse is instructing a patient about the use of her oral antimigraine agent.The instruction should include the best effective action of the drug.Which represents the best way to take this agent?

A) Take the medication at the onset of an attack.
B) This medication should be taken 30 minutes after the onset of the migraine.
C) Take the medication routinely every night.
D) Take the medication 30 minutes before meals.

Question 21

Which drugs are tetracyclic compounds? (Select all that apply.)

A) Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
B) Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
C) Mirtazapine (Remeron)
D) Trazodone (Desyrel)
E) Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

Question 22

The nurse is observing a nursing home patient who is taking a dopaminergic agent.The nurse should teach the patient to be on the outlook for which early signs of toxicity from this medication?

A) Hypertension and edema
B) Muscle twitching and blepharospasm
C) Cravings and increased appetite
D) Hypersensitivity and cool extremities

Question 23

A patient,diagnosed with depression,is being treated with lithium.The nurse assesses the patient's serum lithium level and it is 2.4 mEq/L,What should the nurse do next?

A) Do nothing. This is a therapeutic level.
B) The serum level is stable, but the level should be monitored.
C) Notify the physician. The patient may be at risk for lithium toxicity.
D) Repeat the serum lab test.

Question 24

Antipsychotic drugs are listed in which similar broad categories? (Select all that apply.)

A) Serotonin receptor agonists
B) Phenothiazines
C) Anticholinergics
D) Thioxanthenes
E) Benzodiazepines

Question 25

Long-acting barbiturates are used to treat status epilepticus and seizures caused by which conditions? (Select all that apply.)

A) Fever
B) Tetanus
C) Drugs
D) Tachycardia
E) Arthritis

Question 26

What are the signs and symptoms of lithium toxicity? (Select all that apply.)

A) Diarrhea
B) Constipation
C) Muscle rigidity
D) Ataxia
E) Vomiting