Discussion: Treating acute alcohol withdrawal

Discussion: Treating acute alcohol withdrawal

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Question 10

The wife of a patient who is taking haloperidol calls the clinic and reports that her husband has taken the first dose of the drug and it is not having a therapeutic effect. An appropriate response by the nurse would be

A.            “I’ll ask the nurse practitioner if the dosage can be increased.”

B.            “Continue the prescribed dose. It may take several days to work.”

C.            “I’ll ask the nurse practitioner if the haloperidol can be discontinued and another drug started.”

D.            “I’ll report this to the nurse practitioner and see if he will add another drug to enhance the effects of the haloperidol.”

1 points

Question 11

A patient who is experiencing acute alcohol withdrawal is being treated with intravenous lorazepam (Ativan). This drug achieves a therapeutic effect by

A.            inhibiting the action of monoamine oxidase.

B.            increasing the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA.

C.            increasing the amount of serotonin available in the synapses.

D.            affecting the regulation of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.

1 points

Question 12

A nurse will be prepared to administer naloxone (Narcan) to a patient who has had an overdose of morphine. Repeated doses of Narcan will be necessary because Narcan

A.            has a shorter half-life than morphine.

B.            has less strength in each dose than do individual doses of morphine.

C.            causes the respiratory rate to decrease.

D.            combined with morphine, increases the physiologic action of the morphine.

Diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and chlordiazepoxide (Librium) are used most frequently to treat or prevent alcohol withdrawal, but other benzodiazepines may be used [43]. … We prefer lorazepam (Ativan) or oxazepam (Serax) for thetreatment of patients with advanced cirrhosis or acute alcoholic hepatitis.

The greatest risk of seizures during alcohol withdrawal occurs 12-48 hours after the last drink. People who have seizures because of alcohol withdrawal are at greater risk for experiencing seizures again if medication or drugs change their levels of GABA in the brain later in life