A patient has taken clonazepam for years to manage panic attacks but impulsively stopped the drug.Thirty hours later, the patient comes to the emergency room in distress.What is the nurse's priority action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient has abruptly stopped taking clonazepam, which can cause withdrawal symptoms, including seizures. The nurse's priority action should be to begin seizure precautions, such as padding the bed rails, placing the patient on fall precautions, and closely monitoring the patient for any signs of seizure activity. Addiction counseling and behavior modification may be appropriate interventions for the patient's long-term care, but they are not the nurse's priority in this acute situation. Flumazenil is not indicated for clonazepam withdrawal.

A Patient Has Taken Clonazepam for Years to Manage Panic