Author Question: A patient who took an overdose of verapamil has been treated with gastric lavage and a cathartic. ... (Read 87 times)

KWilfred · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A patient who took an overdose of verapamil has been treated with gastric lavage and a cathartic. The emergency department nurse assesses the patient and notes a heart rate of 50 beats per minute and a blood pressure of 90/50 mm Hg.

The nurse will anticipate: a. administering intravenous norepinephrine (NE) and atropine and glucagon.
b. assisting with direct-current (DC) cardi-oversion.
c. placing the patient in an upright position.
d. preparing to administer a beta blocker.

Question 2

A nurse is discussing the use of benzodiazepines as sedative-hypnotic agents with a group of nursing students. A student asks about the actions of these drugs in the central nervous system. The nurse makes which correct statement?

a. Benzodiazepines affect the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex to cause antero-grade amnesia.
b. Benzodiazepines depress neuronal func-tions by acting at a single site in the brain.
c. Benzodiazepines induce muscle relaxa-tion by acting on sites outside the central nervous system.
d. Benzodiazepines promote sleep through effects on the limbic system.

kardosa007 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
Verapamil toxicity can cause bradycardia and hypotension. Atropine and glucagon should be given to treat bradycardia and NE for hypotension. DC cardioversion is indicated for ventricular tachydysrhythmias, which this patient does not have. Patients with hypotension should be placed in Trendelenburg's position. Beta blockers will only exacerbate these effects.

Answer to Question 2

A
All beneficial and most adverse effects of benzodiazepines occur from depressant actions in the central nervous system (CNS); the various effects depend on the site of action. Anterograde am-nesia is the result of effects in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. Benzodiazepines act at multiple sites in the CNS. Muscle relaxant effects are the result of actions on supraspinal motor areas in the CNS. Benzodiazepines promote sleep through effects on cortical areas and on the sleep-wakefulness clock.