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.

Accepted Answer

Barbiturates have a long duration of action and are used for their sedative effect on the brain.They also raise the seizure threshold,preventing the level of activity that produces the seizure.

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

Accepted Answer

Sedative-hypnotic medications are used in the hospital to relax patients and induce sleep.

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.

Accepted Answer

If the drug is taken for motion sickness,the patient should take it 30 to 60 minutes before departure and 30 minutes before meals thereafter.

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

Accepted Answer

Sudden and severe hypertension can result when MAO inhibitors are used with certain foods and beverages containing tyramine and other vasopressor amines.

Question 5

Which medication is classified as a benzodiazepine?
A) Lorazepam (Ativan)
B) Buspirone (BuSpar)
C) Benztropine (Cogentin)
D) Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

Accepted Answer

Lorazepam (Ativan)is a benzodiazepine.

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

Accepted Answer

Adrenergic-blocking agents dilate the veins in smooth-muscle tissue in the peripheral vascular system and the uterus.This reduces cerebral blood flow and arterial pulsing,which reduces the headache pain.

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

Accepted Answer

Phenothiazines are used primarily for reducing and relieving symptoms of schizophrenia.

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

Accepted Answer

The desired antidepressant effect of the drug will usually occur within 3 to 4 weeks after therapy is started.

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)

Accepted Answer

Diazepam (Valium)is used intravenously to control seizures and is the drug of choice for status epilepticus.

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."

Accepted Answer

The main action of benzodiazepines is to depress the central nervous system,which makes them useful in treating seizures.

Question 11

Which is the drug of choice for status epilepticus?
A) Tegretol
B) Phenobarbital
C) Klonopin
D) Valium

Accepted Answer

Diazepam (Valium)is used intravenously to control seizures and is the drug of choice for treatment of status epilepticus.

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

Accepted Answer

In CNS depression due to barbiturate overdose,there is slow,shallow respiration,miosis,tachycardia,areflexia (absence of reflexes),shock or coma,then death.

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.

Accepted Answer

Antiemetic agents should be used with extreme caution in patients doing tasks that require them to be mentally alert,because these products produce drowsiness.

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

Accepted Answer

Clonazepam (Klonopin)is used in the treatment of petit mal and myoclonic seizures.

Question 15

Long-term use of dopaminergic drugs often leads to which condition?
A) Muscle flaccidity
B) Migraine headaches
C) Incontinence
D) Tardive dyskinesia

Accepted Answer

The long-term use of dopaminergic drugs can cause 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.

Accepted Answer

The drug causes cerebral vasculature to constrict,but it does not have an oxytocic effect and can be used during pregnancy.

Question 17

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)is an antiemetic; it is also used for which other conditions?
A) Headaches
B) Edema
C) Epistaxis
D) Rash

Accepted Answer

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)is an antihistamine that blocks histamine receptors on peripheral effector cells.It is an anticholinergic with sedative properties.

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.

Accepted Answer

Benzodiazepines may be habit forming; the patient should use them for the shortest time possible.

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

Accepted Answer

Lithium is specifically used for patients with manic-depressive psychosis (bipolar disorder)who are in an acute manic phase.

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.

Accepted Answer

If antimigraine agents are used at the onset of an attack,the ability of the drugs to relieve migraine pain and symptoms is increased.

Quiz 13: Central and Peripheral Nervous System Medications

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

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

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?

Which medication is classified as a benzodiazepine?

What is the mechanism of action for antimigraine agents?

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?

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

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

Which is the main action of benzodiazepines?

Which is the drug of choice for status epilepticus?

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

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

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

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?

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

Which statement is true regarding benzodiazepines?

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

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?