NUR 350 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the neurotransmitter that is associated with pain, memory, and mood and is
considered to have calming effects? - Answers :Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
What medication classification is considered the most commonly used anti-anxiety
agents called? - Answers :benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines effect the main neurotransmitter called: - Answers :potentiate GABA
Name some common benzodiazepine medicatios used to treat anxiety. - Answers
:diazepam (Valium)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
alprazolam (Xanax)
lorazepam (Ativan)
Name the 5 benzodiazepines that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration for treatment of insomnia with a hypnotic (sleep-inducing) effect. -
Answers :flurazepam (Dalmane)
temazepam (Restoril)
triazolam (Halcion)
estazolam (Prosom)
quazepam (Doral)
Identify reasons benzodiazepines are used in medical treatment. - Answers
:Anticonvulsant
Reduce neuronal overexcitement of alcohol withdrawal
Decrease anxiety
When benzodiazepines are taken with other CNS depressants such as alcohol, opiates,
or tricyclic antidepressants, the inhibitory actions of the benzodiazepines can lead to
what complication? - Answers :Can lead to life-threatening CNS depression
Patient teaching related to benzodiazepines are? - Answers :interferes with motor
ability, attention, and judgment; caution running any type of machines; caution with
driving a car; can cause ataxia; can lead to falls and broken bones
Action of buspirone(BuSpar) - Answers :blocks feedback inhibition of serotonin which
leads to the increased release of serotonin by the presynaptic cell 5-HT1 Serotonin
This drug reduces anxiety without having strong sedative-hypnotic properties. There is
not the potential for addiction with taking this drug. It is a non-benzodiazepine - Answers
:buspirone(BuSpar)
, The antidepressant classification called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
can be used to treat what anxiety disorders? - Answers :OCD, social anxiety
disorder(SAD), generalized anxiety disorder(GAD), panic disorder(PD)
The antidepressant called Duloxetine (Cymbalta) has been approved by the FDA to
treat what anxiety disorder? - Answers :generalized anxiety disorder
The antidepressant called Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) is used to treat what antianxiety
disorders? - Answers :generalized anxiety disorder, seasonal affective disorder, panic
disorder
What is the name of the classification of medications that is considered the first line of
defense in most anxiety and obsessive-compulsive related disorders? - Answers
:Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Name the two SSRI's that have a more calming effect that the other SSRI's - Answers
:Sertraline (Zoloft)
Paroxetine (Paxil)
The SSRI that is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that works well in the
treatment of several anxiety disorders is called: - Answers :Venlafaxine (Effexor)
This classification of medications are most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders
because they have a quick onset of action - Answers :Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines should be used to treat anxiety symptoms for only short periods of
time due to what reason? - Answers :potential for dependence
Important side effects of benzodiazepines are: - Answers :sedation, ataxia, decreased
cognitive function
Benzodiazepines are not recommended for patients with what type of heath concerns? -
Answers :a known substance abuse problem, women during pregnancy, while breast
feeding
Patient and family teaching regarding antianxiety medications include what? - Answers
:not to change dose of the medication on own, do not operate mechanical equipment,
do not drink alcohol, do not take other antianxiety meds because depressant effects of
both will be potentiated. Caffeine decreases the desired effect of the antianxiety
medications, meds can cause congenital birth defects, do not breast feed, do not stop
med suddenly due to withdrawal symptoms of insomnia, irritability, nervousness,
tremors, convulsions, take meds with food, do not take at same time with antacids
Important facts about Buspirone (BuSpar) - Answers :nonbenzodiazepine, does not
cause dependence, takes 2-4 weeks to begin to reach full effects, can be used for long-
term treatment, need to take schedule(every day)
What is the neurotransmitter that is associated with pain, memory, and mood and is
considered to have calming effects? - Answers :Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
What medication classification is considered the most commonly used anti-anxiety
agents called? - Answers :benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines effect the main neurotransmitter called: - Answers :potentiate GABA
Name some common benzodiazepine medicatios used to treat anxiety. - Answers
:diazepam (Valium)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
alprazolam (Xanax)
lorazepam (Ativan)
Name the 5 benzodiazepines that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration for treatment of insomnia with a hypnotic (sleep-inducing) effect. -
Answers :flurazepam (Dalmane)
temazepam (Restoril)
triazolam (Halcion)
estazolam (Prosom)
quazepam (Doral)
Identify reasons benzodiazepines are used in medical treatment. - Answers
:Anticonvulsant
Reduce neuronal overexcitement of alcohol withdrawal
Decrease anxiety
When benzodiazepines are taken with other CNS depressants such as alcohol, opiates,
or tricyclic antidepressants, the inhibitory actions of the benzodiazepines can lead to
what complication? - Answers :Can lead to life-threatening CNS depression
Patient teaching related to benzodiazepines are? - Answers :interferes with motor
ability, attention, and judgment; caution running any type of machines; caution with
driving a car; can cause ataxia; can lead to falls and broken bones
Action of buspirone(BuSpar) - Answers :blocks feedback inhibition of serotonin which
leads to the increased release of serotonin by the presynaptic cell 5-HT1 Serotonin
This drug reduces anxiety without having strong sedative-hypnotic properties. There is
not the potential for addiction with taking this drug. It is a non-benzodiazepine - Answers
:buspirone(BuSpar)
, The antidepressant classification called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
can be used to treat what anxiety disorders? - Answers :OCD, social anxiety
disorder(SAD), generalized anxiety disorder(GAD), panic disorder(PD)
The antidepressant called Duloxetine (Cymbalta) has been approved by the FDA to
treat what anxiety disorder? - Answers :generalized anxiety disorder
The antidepressant called Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) is used to treat what antianxiety
disorders? - Answers :generalized anxiety disorder, seasonal affective disorder, panic
disorder
What is the name of the classification of medications that is considered the first line of
defense in most anxiety and obsessive-compulsive related disorders? - Answers
:Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Name the two SSRI's that have a more calming effect that the other SSRI's - Answers
:Sertraline (Zoloft)
Paroxetine (Paxil)
The SSRI that is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that works well in the
treatment of several anxiety disorders is called: - Answers :Venlafaxine (Effexor)
This classification of medications are most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders
because they have a quick onset of action - Answers :Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines should be used to treat anxiety symptoms for only short periods of
time due to what reason? - Answers :potential for dependence
Important side effects of benzodiazepines are: - Answers :sedation, ataxia, decreased
cognitive function
Benzodiazepines are not recommended for patients with what type of heath concerns? -
Answers :a known substance abuse problem, women during pregnancy, while breast
feeding
Patient and family teaching regarding antianxiety medications include what? - Answers
:not to change dose of the medication on own, do not operate mechanical equipment,
do not drink alcohol, do not take other antianxiety meds because depressant effects of
both will be potentiated. Caffeine decreases the desired effect of the antianxiety
medications, meds can cause congenital birth defects, do not breast feed, do not stop
med suddenly due to withdrawal symptoms of insomnia, irritability, nervousness,
tremors, convulsions, take meds with food, do not take at same time with antacids
Important facts about Buspirone (BuSpar) - Answers :nonbenzodiazepine, does not
cause dependence, takes 2-4 weeks to begin to reach full effects, can be used for long-
term treatment, need to take schedule(every day)
