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NURS 5220 Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
What are benzodiazepines?
Ans: A class of drugs used for anxiety and other purposes.
What are the uses of benzodiazepines?
Ans: Sedation, hypnosis, muscle relaxation, anxiolysis,
anticonvulsant, amnesia, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal.
What is the structure of benzodiazepines?
Ans: Benzodiazepine ring with 2 nitrogen atoms at positions 1
& 4, phenyl group at position 5, and an electronegative group at
position 7.
How do benzodiazepines work?
Ans: They promote the binding of GABA to the GABAA
receptor, enhancing GABA-induced chloride currents and
inhibiting neuronal cell excitation.
How are benzodiazepines metabolized?
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Ans: They are oxidized in the liver via CYP enzymes, primarily
CYP3A4.
What are the active metabolites of benzodiazepines?
Ans: Diazepam (with a half-life exceeding 100 hours) and
midazolam (rapidly metabolized to an α-hydroxylated
compound with biologic activity).
Which benzodiazepines have no active metabolites?
Ans: Oxazepam, lorazepam, and temazepam.
What factors can alter the metabolism of benzodiazepines?
Ans: Disease and age.
What is the duration of action of benzodiazepines primarily
determined by?
Ans: The α phase (distribution-redistribution from CNS)
dynamics rather than the rate of elimination.
What are the pharmacodynamic effects of benzodiazepines on the
CNS?
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Ans: CNS depressant effects including anxiolysis, sedation,
sleep, anticonvulsant, amnesia, muscle relaxation, and
inhibition of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
What effect do high doses of benzodiazepines have on CMR02 & CBF?
Ans: They reduce CMR02 & CBF.
What effect do benzodiazepines have on the threshold to local
anesthetic-induced seizures?
Ans: They increase the threshold to local anesthetic -induced
seizures.
What is the dose-related effect of benzodiazepines on anterograde
amnesia?
Ans: They cause anterograde amnesia at high doses.
What are the potential drawbacks of benzodiazepine use?
Ans: Awareness regarding addiction, withdrawal, recreational
abuse, and the development of other drug classes has led to a
decline in their use.
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Which CYP enzyme is primarily responsible for the metabolism of
benzodiazepines?
Ans: CYP3A4.
Which benzodiazepine has a half-life exceeding 100 hours?
Ans: Diazepam.
Which benzodiazepine is rapidly metabolized to an α-hydroxylated
compound with biologic activity?
Ans: Midazolam.
Which benzodiazepines have no active metabolites?
Ans: Oxazepam, lorazepam, and temazepam.
What is the primary factor determining the duration of action of
benzodiazepines?
Ans: The α phase dynamics of distribution-redistribution from
the CNS.
What are the CNS depressant effects of benzodiazepines?
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
NURS 5220 Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
What are benzodiazepines?
Ans: A class of drugs used for anxiety and other purposes.
What are the uses of benzodiazepines?
Ans: Sedation, hypnosis, muscle relaxation, anxiolysis,
anticonvulsant, amnesia, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal.
What is the structure of benzodiazepines?
Ans: Benzodiazepine ring with 2 nitrogen atoms at positions 1
& 4, phenyl group at position 5, and an electronegative group at
position 7.
How do benzodiazepines work?
Ans: They promote the binding of GABA to the GABAA
receptor, enhancing GABA-induced chloride currents and
inhibiting neuronal cell excitation.
How are benzodiazepines metabolized?
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
Ans: They are oxidized in the liver via CYP enzymes, primarily
CYP3A4.
What are the active metabolites of benzodiazepines?
Ans: Diazepam (with a half-life exceeding 100 hours) and
midazolam (rapidly metabolized to an α-hydroxylated
compound with biologic activity).
Which benzodiazepines have no active metabolites?
Ans: Oxazepam, lorazepam, and temazepam.
What factors can alter the metabolism of benzodiazepines?
Ans: Disease and age.
What is the duration of action of benzodiazepines primarily
determined by?
Ans: The α phase (distribution-redistribution from CNS)
dynamics rather than the rate of elimination.
What are the pharmacodynamic effects of benzodiazepines on the
CNS?
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
Ans: CNS depressant effects including anxiolysis, sedation,
sleep, anticonvulsant, amnesia, muscle relaxation, and
inhibition of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
What effect do high doses of benzodiazepines have on CMR02 & CBF?
Ans: They reduce CMR02 & CBF.
What effect do benzodiazepines have on the threshold to local
anesthetic-induced seizures?
Ans: They increase the threshold to local anesthetic -induced
seizures.
What is the dose-related effect of benzodiazepines on anterograde
amnesia?
Ans: They cause anterograde amnesia at high doses.
What are the potential drawbacks of benzodiazepine use?
Ans: Awareness regarding addiction, withdrawal, recreational
abuse, and the development of other drug classes has led to a
decline in their use.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |4
Which CYP enzyme is primarily responsible for the metabolism of
benzodiazepines?
Ans: CYP3A4.
Which benzodiazepine has a half-life exceeding 100 hours?
Ans: Diazepam.
Which benzodiazepine is rapidly metabolized to an α-hydroxylated
compound with biologic activity?
Ans: Midazolam.
Which benzodiazepines have no active metabolites?
Ans: Oxazepam, lorazepam, and temazepam.
What is the primary factor determining the duration of action of
benzodiazepines?
Ans: The α phase dynamics of distribution-redistribution from
the CNS.
What are the CNS depressant effects of benzodiazepines?
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
