Author Question: The nurse is working with a client who shows signs of benzodiazepine withdrawal. The nurse suspects ... (Read 67 times)

TFauchery · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

The nurse is working with a client who shows signs of benzodiazepine withdrawal. The nurse suspects that the client has suddenly discontinued taking which of the following prescribed med-ications?

1. Sertraline (Zoloft)
2. Diazepam (Valium)
3. Haloperidol (Haldol)
4. Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Question 2

The nurse monitors this client with a history of opioid abuse for which of the following signs and symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal?

1. Tachycardia, mild hypertension and fever, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and marked tremor
2. Increased appetite, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, anxiety, and altered concen-tration
3. Depression, high drug craving, fatigue with altered sleep (insomnia or hyper-somnia), hypertension, agitation, and paranoia
4. Increased pulse and blood pressure, low-grade fever, yawning, restlessness, anxi-ety, craving, diarrhea, and mydriasis

frre432 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

2

Rationale: The only benzodiazepine presented in the options is diazepam (Valium). Benzodiaz-epines are effective only when used for short-term therapy. Short-acting benzodiazepines can produce withdrawal symptoms within 1 to 2 days, whereas long-acting benzodiazepines take 5 to 10 days for withdrawal symptoms to occur following discontinuation. Manifestations include insomnia, agitation, anxiety, irritability, nausea, and diaphoresis. The other options list an anti-psychotic (sertraline (Zoloft)) and antidepressants (haloperidol (Haldol) and fluoxetine (Prozac)).

Answer to Question 2

4

Rationale: Opioids are central nervous system depressants. They generally cause drowsiness and the feeling of being out of touch with the world. Withdrawal occurs within 12 hours after the last dose. Increased pulse and blood pressure, low-grade fever, yawning, restlessness, anxiety, craving, diarrhea, and mydriasis identifies the signs and symptoms associated with opioid with-drawal. Tachycardia, mild hypertension and fever, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and marked tremor identifies signs associated with nicotine withdrawal. Increased appetite, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, anxiety, and altered concentration describes cocaine withdrawal. Depres-sion, high drug craving, fatigue with altered sleep (insomnia or hypersomnia), hypertension, agi-tation, and paranoia describes alcohol withdrawal.