Author Question: A patient is being treated for muscle spasms. A nurse is preparing to administer a prn medication ... (Read 94 times)

Zulu123 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A patient is being treated for muscle spasms. A nurse is preparing to administer a prn medication for this patient. The nurse is aware that the only benzodiazepine commonly used to relieve muscle spasm is which of the following?

a. Diazepam (Valium)
b. Lorazepam (Ativan)
c. Estazolam (Prosom)
d. Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Question 2

A nurse is acting as a preceptor to a graduate nurse. They are discussing the differences between various medications. The nurses understand that, in contrast to the barbiturates, the benzodiazepines have which principal mechanism of action?

a. They cannot pass the blood-brain barrier.
b. They have limited central nervous system depression effects.
c. They are not lipid soluble.
d. They have more difficulty affecting the central nervous system.

Eunice618 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
A benzodiazepine (diazepam) is used to relive muscle spasm and spasticity.
Lorazepam's primary indication is as an antianxiety medication or to manage status epileptics.
Estazolam is used primarily to manage sleep disturbances.
Clonazepam is used primarily to manage panic disorders.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The ability of benzodiazepines to depress central nervous system function is low. Because of their high lipid solubility, benzodiazepines readily cross the blood-brain barrier to reach sites in the central nervous system.
Benzodiazepines readily cross the blood-brain barrier.
Benzodiazepines are highly lipid soluble.
Benzodiazepines do not have more difficulty affecting the central nervous system than barbiturates do.