The nurse is caring for a patient with Alzheimer disease. The ...

[penza]

The nurse is caring for a patient with Alzheimer disease. The patient has been taking donezepil (Aricept), and reports that has been helping but that it does not seem to be working as well as it used to.
 
  The health care provider writes an order for memantine (Namenda). Which statement will the nurse include in the education for the patient and caregiver?
  1. Memantine works by increasing activation of glutamine transmission.
  2. Memantine works by reducing activation of glutamine transmission.
  3. Memantine will enhance breakdown of acetylcholine.
  4. Memantine will inhibit breakdown of acetylcholine.

Question 2

What are some of the drug types whose primary action is to target the transporters in the presynaptic portion on the neuronal cell? Select all that apply.
 
  1. Opioid receptor agonists
  2. Serotonin-reuptake inhibitors
  3. Norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors
  4. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors
  5. Norepinephrine-dopamine-reuptake inhibitors.

[Kedrick2014]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: 2
Explanation: Memantine is an N-methyl d-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist, which means it works by inhibiting or reducing activation of glutamine transmission. Donezpril reduces the breakdown of acetylcholine. Reducing activation of glutamine transmission and reducing the breakdown of acetylcholine may slow the progress of dementia associated with Alzheimer disease.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 2, 3, 4, 5
Explanation: Some examples of drugs that target the transporters in the presynaptic portion on the neuronal cell, thereby making more neurotransmitter available for the receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, include selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors, and norepinephrine- dopamine-reuptake inhibitors. Opioid agonists have chemical properties that mimic the body's own drug-to-receptor process and will produce the same response in the cell.