Chapter 11 - Drugs for Mental Health Visovsky - Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology, 10th Edition 100% Verified Answers (A+) 1. The healthcare provider is considering prescribing a drug for a patient with insomnia. Which drug category is helpful in promoting sleep among patients with insomnia? a. Sedatives b. ACE inhibitors c. Atypical antipsychotics d. Selective serotonin reupt ake inhibitors - ANS: A Sedatives are drugs that have the main purpose of promoting sleep by changing signals in the CNS and reducing responses to stimulation. 2. You are preparing to give the benzodiazepine Valium to a patient as a premedication before s urgery. The patient asks you how this drug works. What is your best response? a. "This drug works by binding to receptors acting with GABA to induce sleep." b. "This drug acts by preventing binding to the benzodiazepine receptors." c. "This drug acts by in hibiting GABA responses to relax muscles." d. "This drug acts by binding to opioid receptors." - ANS: A Benzodiazepines are sedating hypnotic drugs that depress the CNS by binding to benzodiazepine (BNZ) receptors that act with gamma -aminobutyric acid (GAB A) receptors to enhance GABA effects, resulting sleep and muscle relaxation. 3. You are caring for a patient in the clinic setting who has been taking a benzodiazepine alprazolam (Xanax) for anxiety. What potential problem should you observe this patient for? a. Seizure activity b. Dependence c. Insomnia d. Anorexia - ANS: B The benzodiazepines have a higher risk for physical dependence as compared to nonbenzodiazepines. They also carry a black box warning for CNS depression. Overdoses are possible and ser ious. 4. The family of a patient who has been brought to the emergency room suspects the patient took an accidental overdose of Which drug would you anticipate will be given to a patient who experienced an overdose of a benzodiazepine? a. Rifampin b. Nalo xone c. Flumazenil d. Epinephrine - ANS: C The drug flumazenil (Romazicon) is a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist and is an antidote used to reverse an overdose of either a benzodiazepine sedative or a nonbenzodiazepine sedative. For adults, it is given i ntravenously with an initial dose of 0.2 mg. If there is no response after 45 seconds, the dose can be repeated. After that, it can be repeated every minute for a total of 4 doses. 5. For which patient would benzodiazepines be contraindicated? a. A female with breast cancer b. A woman who is 20 weeks pregnant c. A male who has a history of smoking d. A male who is about to undergo surgery - ANS: B Pregnancy is an absolute contraindication for the benzodiazepines because they have a high risk for causing birth defects. Although the chemical structure of the non -
benzodiazepines (benzodiazepine agonists) is different, these drugs bind to the same recep tors and have similar actions. As a result, they are not recommended during pregnancy. 6. You are planning an educational session with a patient who is taking a benzodiazepine agonist. What specific information should you include as part of the teaching p lan? a. "These drugs can interact with many foods and beverages." b. "These drugs can cause you to be physically active at night." c. "These drugs must be takes for at least 6 weeks to see any effects." d. "Excess caffeine intake can work to increase the e ffectiveness of these drugs." - ANS: B When taking a non -benzodiazepine (benzodiazepine agonist), be aware that drugs from this class can cause you to be physically active at night, even going for a drive, without your knowledge or memory of the event. It is best to have a family member or friend watch out for these effects when you first start taking the drug. 7. You are preparing to teach a patient with anxiety disorder about the actions the benzodiazepine agonist buspirone. What would you inform the pat ient about how this drug works? a. "Buspirone acts by inhibiting GABA pathways to decrease anxiety." b. "Buspirone acts by affecting the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters." c. "Buspirone acts by affecting the monoamine oxidase pathway." d. "Buspi rone acts by inhibiting the action of dopamine receptors." - ANS: B A newer drug from the non -benzodiazepine class, buspirone, reduces anxiety through a variety of actions affecting the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters. 8. A patient you are interv iewing tells you that the healthcare provider will be prescribing a benzodiazepine. Which of the following drugs is classified as a benzodiazepine? a. Lorazepam (Ativan) b. Buspirone (BuSpar) c. Benztropine (Cogentin) d. Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) - ANS: A Lorazepam (Ativan) is a benzodiazepine. 9. A patient taking an antidepressant tells you the drug is not working and has decided to stop taking it. What is your best response? a. "If you are not receiving the benefits, you can stop the antidepressant righ t away." b. "You should not stop taking the antidepressant abruptly."
benzodiazepines (benzodiazepine agonists) is different, these drugs bind to the same recep tors and have similar actions. As a result, they are not recommended during pregnancy. 6. You are planning an educational session with a patient who is taking a benzodiazepine agonist. What specific information should you include as part of the teaching p lan? a. "These drugs can interact with many foods and beverages." b. "These drugs can cause you to be physically active at night." c. "These drugs must be takes for at least 6 weeks to see any effects." d. "Excess caffeine intake can work to increase the e ffectiveness of these drugs." - ANS: B When taking a non -benzodiazepine (benzodiazepine agonist), be aware that drugs from this class can cause you to be physically active at night, even going for a drive, without your knowledge or memory of the event. It is best to have a family member or friend watch out for these effects when you first start taking the drug. 7. You are preparing to teach a patient with anxiety disorder about the actions the benzodiazepine agonist buspirone. What would you inform the pat ient about how this drug works? a. "Buspirone acts by inhibiting GABA pathways to decrease anxiety." b. "Buspirone acts by affecting the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters." c. "Buspirone acts by affecting the monoamine oxidase pathway." d. "Buspi rone acts by inhibiting the action of dopamine receptors." - ANS: B A newer drug from the non -benzodiazepine class, buspirone, reduces anxiety through a variety of actions affecting the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters. 8. A patient you are interv iewing tells you that the healthcare provider will be prescribing a benzodiazepine. Which of the following drugs is classified as a benzodiazepine? a. Lorazepam (Ativan) b. Buspirone (BuSpar) c. Benztropine (Cogentin) d. Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) - ANS: A Lorazepam (Ativan) is a benzodiazepine. 9. A patient taking an antidepressant tells you the drug is not working and has decided to stop taking it. What is your best response? a. "If you are not receiving the benefits, you can stop the antidepressant righ t away." b. "You should not stop taking the antidepressant abruptly."
