NUR 256 (Medication Management) Week 7
“NUR 256 (Medication Management) Week 7 reviews benzodiazepines, highlighting why they are preferred over barbiturates. These flashcards emphasize their safety profile, therapeutic advantages, and clinical relevance in medication management.”
Benzodiazepines have become among the most widely prescribed drugs, why are they preferred over older hypnotic agents such as barbiturates?
Specific dose related anxiolytic(aniti anixety) action
Lower fatality rates following acute toxicty/overdose
Lower potential for abuse
More favourable adverse effect profiles
The availability of a specific antidote(Flumazenil)
Fewer potentially serious drug interactions when administered with other medications.
Key Terms
Benzodiazepines have become among the most widely prescribed drugs, why are they preferred over older hypnotic agents such as barbiturates?
Specific dose related anxiolytic(aniti anixety) action
Lower fatality ...
Describe the manifestation and management of benzodiazepine overdose
Manifestion of benzodiazepine overdose presents can present with CNS depression, confusion/drowsiness through to coma, h...
The administration and prescription of an antiepileptic medication depends largely on the correct diagnosis of seizure type. Describe the types of seizures listed below and give examples of the appropriate antiepileptic agent that may be prescribed.
Simple or Complex Partial -
Brief alterations in consciousness, unusual stereotyped movements( eg repetitive chewing/swallowing), confusion and chan...
Absence Seizures (or Petit mal) -
Brief loss and return of consciousness not followed by a period of lethargy
Medications...
Generalized tonic clonic seizures (or Grand Mal) -
Sudden loss of consciousness & motor control. May also have numbness, visual disturbances, dizziness, muscular contr...
Myoclonic Seizures -
Bilaterally symmetrical muscle jerks, loss of conciousness can occur
Medications includ...
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Benzodiazepines have become among the most widely prescribed drugs, why are they preferred over older hypnotic agents such as barbiturates? |
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Describe the manifestation and management of benzodiazepine overdose | Manifestion of benzodiazepine overdose presents can present with CNS depression, confusion/drowsiness through to coma, hypotonia, hypotension and respiratory depression. Management of benzodiazepine overdose includes maintenance of an proper airway, VS monitoring , O2 therapy, IV fluids, vasopressors if needed also Flumazenil(antidote) |
The administration and prescription of an antiepileptic medication depends largely on the correct diagnosis of seizure type. Describe the types of seizures listed below and give examples of the appropriate antiepileptic agent that may be prescribed. Simple or Complex Partial - | Brief alterations in consciousness, unusual stereotyped movements( eg repetitive chewing/swallowing), confusion and changes in temperament. Medications include: Carbamzepine, Phenytoin, Valproate, Gabapentin and Lamotrigine |
Absence Seizures (or Petit mal) - | Brief loss and return of consciousness not followed by a period of lethargy Medications include: Valproate, Clobazam, Clonazapam & Lamotrigine. |
Generalized tonic clonic seizures (or Grand Mal) - | Sudden loss of consciousness & motor control. May also have numbness, visual disturbances, dizziness, muscular contractions(rigid synchronous jerking of body) and rolling upwards of the eyes. Medications include: Carbamzepine, Valproate, Lamotrigine, Phenytoin & Gabapentin |
Myoclonic Seizures - | Bilaterally symmetrical muscle jerks, loss of conciousness can occur Medications include: Valproate, Lamotrigine, Clonazapam & Phenobarbitone |
While no antiepileptic drug is considered completely ideal. List the characteristics considered desirable in the ideal antiepileptic drug |
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A very real and common group of side effects related to the use of psychotropic medications are the extrapyramidal effects. As a nurse who may be caring for patients who are being administered these medications it is important to understand the possible side effects and possible treatment options. Describe the conditions below which all fall into the category of extrapyramidal effects and possible treatments. Akathisia - | Description- Motor restlessness, unable to sit/stand still person feels urgent need to move/pace/rock/tap foot. Can also present with apprehension, irritability and general uneasiness. Treatment- Reducing dose of neuroleptic agent, switching to an atypical psychotic agent eg Benztropine, Diazapam |
Dystonia - | Description- Muscle spasms of face/tongue/neck/jaw or hands, hyperextension of neck/trunk arching of back and oculogyric(fixed upward gaze) crisis may occur. Treatment- Reducing dose and depending on the severity of reaction adminisration of Benztropine IM or IV |
Drug-Induced Parkinsonism - | Description- Symptoms similiar to parkinson’s disease which include shuffling gait, drooling, tremors, bradykinesia, increased rigidity and akinesia Treatment includes antiparkinson drugs Benztropine or Benzhexol and possible switching of neuroleptic. |
Tardive Dyskinesia - | Description- Oral or facial dyskinesia(involuntary muscle movements such as tongue darting, lip smacking etc) Reducing or stopping neuroleptic agent ASAP No effective treatment so prevention is vital as it can be irreversible. |
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - | Rare but potentially fatal adverse effect for a person on typical antipsychotics symptoms include high temperature, muscle rigidity, altered consciousness and impaired automnomic homeostasis. Treatment includes widthdrawal of the drug, hydration and possible administration of Bromocriptine(dopamine agonist) & Dantrolene to control muscle spasms. |
Describe the mechanism and characteristics of the serotonin syndrome, and name several drugs that can induce it. | Excess stimulation of 5-Ht 2a receptors by serotonergic drugs. |
Patient education is an important role that nurses play in medication management. Describe and explain the mechanism of the tyramine reaction that can occur in patients taking MAO inhibitor drugs. Explain the education you would give a patient when started on this medication, give examples of food to avoid. | Foods to avoid would be aged cheeses, vegetables(avocardo, broad bean pods) Fruits, bananas/raisins. |
Caffeine is probably the most widely used stimulant in the world and is found in many beverages such as coffee, tea, cocoa and cola drinks. When taking a medication history, why is the amount of caffeine consumed daily by the patient a concern? Name three illness or conditions that may be induced or exacerbated by the chronic consumption of large amount of caffeine? | Hypertension, insomnia, pregnant persons & people prone to panic attacks. |
All drugs have the potential to be misused or abused regardless of whether they are prescribed or self-administered, legal or illegal. Differentiate between misuse and abuse as they relate to drug taking; | Drug misuse refers to inappropriate or indiscriminate use of a drug eg taking an antibiotic for a headache Drug abuse refers to self administration of a drug in excessive quantities. |
Dependence is the condition in which administration of a drug is compulsively sought in the absence of therapeutic indication and despite adverse psychological, social or physical effects. Define the following terms as they relate to dependence; Psychological dependance- | Behaviour characterised by out of control craving for the drug effects also denial and continual abuse despite life difficulties related to their drug taking. |
Physical - | Intense withdrawal symptoms when taking of the drug stop. |
Addiction - | Behaviour associated with the overinvolvement with the obtaining and use of the drug. |
Tolerance - | Doses must be increased to have the same effect as repeated doses have an decreasing effect. |
As a nurse in the clinical setting patients under the influence of various substances may present for treatment, it is important to understand the possible cause of their intoxication. | Neglect of appearance, loss of interest/motivation, red eyes, weight loss & a sweet burnt odour. |
Cocaine- | Restlessness, anxierty, intense short term high followed by dysphoria(unhappy, coming down) |
Opioids- | Lethargy, miosis(pinpoint pupils), drowsiness possible needle marks |
CNS depressants & Barbiturates | Drowsiness, confusion, impaired judgement, slurred speech and constricted pupils |
Amphetamines- | Excess activity, irratability, nervousness, mood swings, violence and possibel needle marks |
Hallucinogenic agents- | Distorted sensations, slurred speech, blurred vision, incoordination, confusion, agitation, agression. |
Ethanol abuse is a common problem in society today. Review the pharmacological effects of ethanol on the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal organs, both in short term use and in chronic alcohol consumption. Name at least three major drug interactions with alcohol and other drugs. | Opioids/anti-anxieties/anti-psychotics all increase the CNS effects of alcohol Prokinetics drugs(metoclopramide) leads to the faster absorption of alcohol Phenytoin/warfarin decrease the effects of these drugs and can raise serum levels to toxic |