A patient is brought to the emergency department with decreased ...

[Alygatorr01285]

A patient is brought to the emergency department with decreased respirations and somnolence. The nurse notes a heart rate of 60 beats per minute and a blood pressure of 80/58 mm Hg.
 
  The patient is known to take alprazolam (Xanax) to treat anxiety. Which medication will the nurse anticipate the provider to order?
  a. Benztropine (Cogentin)
  b. Flumazenil (Romazicon)
  c. Lorazepam (Ativan)
  d. Propranolol (Inderal)

Question 2

A patient who is taking chlorpromazine calls the clinic to report having reddish-brown urine. What action will the nurse take?
 
  a. Notify the provider and request orders for creatinine clearance and BUN levels.
  b. Reassure the patient that this is a harmless side effect of this medication.
  c. Tell the patient to come to the clinic for a urinalysis.
  d. Tell the patient to discard any drug on hand and request a new prescription.

[vboyd24]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Flumazenil is the recommended benzodiazepine antagonist to treat overdose of benzodiazepines. This patient is unconscious and has bradycardia and hypotension, so the antagonist medication is indicated. Benztropine is an anticholinergic used to treat acute dystonia in patients taking phenothiazines. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine and would only intensify the symptoms. Propranolol is a beta blocker used to treat akathisia in patients taking phenothiazines.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Aliphatic phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, can cause a harmless pink or red-brown urine discoloration. There is no need to evaluate renal function with creatinine clearance, BUN, or urinalysis. The discoloration does not indicate that the medication has expired.

[Alygatorr01285]

Excellent

[ttt030911]

TYSM