Deck 20: Central Nervous System Stimulants

Question 1

The nurse is caring for a 7-year-old child who has difficulty concentrating and completing tasks and who cannot seem to sit still.Which diagnostic test may be ordered to assist with a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)in this child?

A)Computerized tomography (CT) of the head
B)Electrocardiogram (ECG)
C)Electroencephalogram (EEG)
D)Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain

Answer 1

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 2

The parent of an adolescent who has taken methylphenidate 20 mg/day for 6 months for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)brings the child to clinic for evaluation of a recent onset of nausea,vomiting,and headaches.The parent expresses concern that the child seems less focused and more hyperactive than before.What will the nurse do next?

A)Ask the child whether the drug is being taken as prescribed.
B)Contact the provider to discuss increasing the dose to 30 mg/day.
C)Recommend taking the drug with meals to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
D)Report signs of drug toxicity to the patient's provider.

Answer 2

Ask the child whether the drug is being taken as prescribed.

Question 3

The nurse is checking an 8-year-old child who has attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)into a clinic for an annual well-child visit.The child takes methylphenidate HCl (Ritalin).Which assessments are especially important for this child?

A)Heart rate,respiratory rate,and oxygen saturation
B)Height,weight,and blood pressure
C)Measures of fine- and gross-motor development
D)Nausea,vomiting,and gastrointestinal upset

Answer 3

Height,weight,and blood pressure

Question 4

The parent of a child who is taking amphetamine (Adderall)to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)asks the provider to recommend an over-the-counter medication to treat a cold.What will the nurse tell the parent?

A)"Avoid any products containing pseudoephedrine or caffeine."
B)"Never give over-the-counter medications with Adderall."
C)"Sudafed is a safe and effective decongestant."
D)"Use any over-the-counter medication from the local pharmacy."

Question 5

A patient is brought to the emergency department with a drug overdose causing respiratory depression.Which drug will the nurse expect to administer?

A)Albuterol (Proventil)
B)Caffeine (Cafcit)
C)Doxapram (Dopram)
D)Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Question 6

A patient reports difficulty staying awake during the daytime in spite of getting adequate sleep every night.Which medication will the nurse expect the provider to order for this patient?

A)Caffeine (NoDoz)
B)Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
C)Modafinil (Provigil)
D)Theophylline

Question 7

A college-age student is brought to the emergency department by friends after consuming NoDoz tablets along with several cups of coffee and a few energy drinks.The patient is complaining of nausea and diarrhea and appears restless.The nurse understands that

A)arrhythmias and convulsions may occur.
B)caffeine dependence does not occur.
C)effects of the substances will wear off shortly.
D)severe adverse effects do not occur.

Question 8

A patient reports having recurring headaches described as 1 to 2 headaches per day for several weeks.The nurse understands that these headaches are most likely descriptive of which type of headache?

A)Cluster headache
B)Migraine headache
C)Simple headache
D)Tension headache

Question 9

The parent of an obese 10-year-old child asks the nurse about medications to aid in weight loss.Which response by the nurse is correct?

A)"Anorexiants are often used to 'jump start' a weight loss regimen in children."
B)"Children are able to use over-the-counter anorexiants on a long-term basis."
C)"Children under 12 years of age should not use weight loss drugs."
D)"Side effects of anorexiants occur less often in children."

Question 10

The nurse is caring for a patient who has migraine headaches.The patient reports having these headaches more frequently.Which is an appropriate recommendation for this patient?

A)"Avoid chocolate and caffeine."
B)"Engage in strenuous exercise."
C)"Have a glass of red wine with dinner."
D)"Take ibuprofen prophylactically."

Question 11

The nurse is teaching a parent about methylphenidate (Ritalin)to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Which statement by the parent indicates understanding of the teaching?

A)"I should consult a pharmacist when giving my child OTC medications."
B)"I will only give my child diet soft drinks while administering this medication."
C)"Medication therapy means that behavioral therapy will not be necessary."
D)"Weight gain is a common side effect of this medication."

Question 12

The nurse is working in a neonatal intensive care unit and is caring for an infant who is experiencing multiple periods of apnea and bradycardia.Which drug will the nurse expect to administer?

A)Albuterol (Proventil)
B)Caffeine (Cafcit)
C)Doxapram (Dopram)
D)Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Question 13

The nurse is teaching a child and a parent about taking methylphenidate (Ritalin)to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Which statement by the parent indicates understanding of the teaching?

A)"I should give this drug to my child at bedtime."
B)"My child should avoid products containing caffeine."
C)"The drug should be stopped immediately if my child develops aggression."
D)"We should monitor my child's weight since weight gain is common."

Question 14

A patient has been using an amphetamine drug as an anorexiant for several weeks and asks the nurse about long-term adverse effects of this type of medication.The nurse will explain to the patient that these drugs

A)can cause cardiac dysrhythmias.
B)contribute to the development of narcolepsy.
C)do not have severe effects when used properly.
D)will cause orthostatic hypotension.

Question 15

The nurse is performing a medication history on a patient who reports using phentermine HCl (Suprenza)15 mg/day for the past 3 months as an appetite suppressant.The nurse will contact the patient's provider to discuss

A)changing the medication to phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia).
B)increasing the dose to 37.5 mg/day since tolerance has likely occurred.
C)initiating a slow taper of the phentermine.
D)stopping the drug immediately since long-term use is not recommended.