Deck 20: Drugs for Degenerative Diseases of the Nervous System

Question 1

The patient has Parkinson's disease,and develops depression.What is the best education the nurse can give the patient's family?
1)"Anytime someone has a brain disease,depression will result."
2)"Depression is very easy to treat with medications we have available."
3)"This is a common problem with Parkinson's disease."
4)"This is a result of the medications taken for control of symptoms."

Answer 1

3

Question 2

The patient receives trihexyphenidyl (Artane)for Parkinson's disease.Which assessment data will the nurse report to the physician?
1)Dry mouth
2)Anorexia
3)Hypertension
4)Urinary retention

Answer 2

4

Question 3

Several senior citizens have asked the nurse to do a presentation on degenerative diseases.What does the nurse plan to teach as the most common degenerative diseases? Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
2)Multiple sclerosis
3)Alzheimer's disease
4)Huntington's chorea
5)Parkinson's disease

Answer 3

3,5

Question 4

The nurse plans to teach a class about Alzheimer's disease to a caregiver's support group.What will the best plan by the nurse include? Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Depression and aggressive behavior are common with the disease.
2)Alzheimer's disease accounts for about 50% of all dementias.
3)Glutamergic inhibitors are the most common class of drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease.
4)Chronic inflammation of the brain may be a cause of the disease.
5)Memory difficulties are an early symptom of the disease.

Question 5

Which of the following would most likely be an initial treatment for a patient with Alzheimer's disease?
1)Levodopa (Larodopa)
2)Haloperidol (Haldol)
3)Benztropine mesylate (Cogentin)
4)Donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept)

Question 6

From a pharmacology standpoint,which of the following best explains why levodopa is superior to dopamine?
1)It crosses the blood-brain barrier.
2)It has fewer adverse effects.
3)It has less risk for addiction.
4)It can be administered orally.

Question 7

Pharmacotherapy for Parkinson's disease is intended to
1)increase the amount of dopamine and reduce the amount of acetylcholine.
2)increase the amount of dopamine and acetylcholine.
3)reduce the amount of dopamine and increase the amount of acetylcholine.
4)reduce the amount of dopamine and acetylcholine.

Question 8

The patient receives levodopa and carbidopa (Sinemet).What will the best teaching by the nurse include as relates to this medication?
1)Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages.
2)Take the medication with meals.
3)Take the medication on an empty stomach.
4)Take the medication with a protein food.

Question 9

The elderly patient receives levodopa (Larodopa).The nurse is primarily concerned about which problem with this patient?
1)Hypertension
2)Diarrhea
3)Muscle twitching
4)Dark urine

Question 10

The nurse is teaching a class for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease.The nurse determines that learning has occurred when the caregivers make which statement?
1)"There aren't any drugs that are effective in treating this disease."
2)"There are effective drugs,but they cannot be used over a long period."
3)"There are drugs that will help decrease symptoms for a little while."
4)"There are drugs that can control symptoms for many years."

Question 11

The nurse plans care for a patient with Parkinson's disease.What will the best plan by the nurse include?
1)Monitor the patient for the ability to chew and swallow.
2)Check peripheral circulation for thrombophlebitis.
3)Monitor the patient for psychotic symptoms.
4)Limit exercise to decrease the possibility of fractures.

Question 12

The patient receives tacrine (Cognex)as treatment for Alzheimer's disease.Which laboratory test(s)will the nurse primarily assess?
1)Serum amylase levels
2)Complete blood count
3)Renal function tests
4)Liver function tests

Question 13

The patient receives aspirin,a multivitamin,and an antihistamine every day.What is the best instruction by the nurse prior to administering levodopa (Larodopa)?
1)"You should not take the aspirin with your levodopa (Larodopa)."
2)"You should not take the antihistamine with your levodopa (Larodopa)."
3)"You should not take the multivitamin with your levodopa (Larodopa)."
4)"These medications are safe to take with levodopa (Larodopa)."

Question 14

Which statement is the most accurate regarding acetylcholinesterase inhibitors when used for Alzheimer's disease?
1)They reverse the structural damage within the brain.
2)They increase synthesis of acetylcholine.
3)They increase enzymatic breakdown,leading to increased neuronal production.
4)They intensify the effect of acetylcholine at the receptor.

Question 15

Muscle stiffness,pill-rolling activity,and bradykinesia are symptoms most likely associated with which disorder?
1)Parkinson's disease
2)Multiple sclerosis
3)Alzheimer's disease
4)Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why structural changes occur within the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease?
1)Increased acetylcholine levels
2)Increases in blood pressure and cholesterol levels
3)Chronic inflammation and oxidate cellular damage
4)Cerebral bleeding and associated hypoxia

Question 17

The patient is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.The patient's wife asks the nurse how taking medicine will help her husband.What is the best response by the nurse?
1)"The medications will help prevent muscle wasting in your husband."
2)"The medications will boost your husband's appetite and energy."
3)"The medications will balance serotonin and acetylcholine in your husband's brain."
4)"The medications will help your husband to eat and walk."

Question 18

Which of the following degenerative diseases of the central nervous system is the most common?
1)Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
2)Parkinson's
3)Multiple sclerosis
4)Huntington's chorea

Question 19

The patient has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.What is the best medication education the nurse gives to the patient's husband?
1)"The medication may help her symptoms for a little while."
2)"The medication has serious side effects if used for a long time."
3)"Her symptoms will improve as long as she takes the medication."
4)"Her symptoms should begin improving in a few days."

Question 20

The patient receives levodopa (Larodopa).The nurse has completed medication education and determines that learning has occurred when the patient makes which statement?
1)"I need to increase my daily intake of protein."
2)"I must increase the fiber in my diet."
3)"I need to check my pulse before taking the medication."
4)"I must avoid yellow vegetables in my diet."

Question 21

A patient with Parkinson's disease is experiencing an increase in bradykinesia.What will the patient demonstrate with this manifestation? Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Slow speech
2)Difficulty chewing
3)Shuffling the feet when walking
4)Stooped posture
5)Lack of facial expression

Question 22

A patient is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.What symptoms will the nurse most likely assess in this patient? Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Muscle weakness
2)Difficulty maintaining balance
3)Atrophy of the hands and legs
4)Slow shuffling gait
5)Progressive chorea

Question 23

What will the nurse include when teaching a caregivers' support group about Alzheimer's disease? Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Glutamergic inhibitors are the most common class of drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease.
2)Depression and aggressive behavior are common with the disease.
3)Memory difficulties are an early symptom of the disease.
4)Chronic inflammation of the brain can be a cause of the disease.
5)Pharmacologic therapies are given to help improve memory in Alzheimer's disease.

Question 24

The nurse observes a patient with Parkinson's disease having difficulty controlling hand movements.What did the nurse observe in this patient? Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)Pill rolling
2)Tremor
3)Stooped posture
4)Lack of arm swing
5)Difficulty bending the arms

Question 25

The nurse,providing medications to a patient with multiple sclerosis,realizes that the goals of medication therapy for this patient include Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
1)modifying the progression of the disease.
2)treating acute exacerbations.
3)managing symptoms.
4)curing the disease.
5)remyelinating nerve fibers.