Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms ( 9 Questions)
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a benzodiazepine overdose. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
Naloxone is an antidote for opioid overdose that works by displacing opioids from their receptors in the brain. It has no effect on benzodiazepines or their receptors.
Rationale: Flumazenil is an antidote for benzodiazepine overdose that works by blocking the benzodiazepine receptors in the brain. It can reverse the effects of benzodiazepines such as sedation, respiratory depression, and coma.
Activated charcoal is a substance that binds to drugs or toxins in the gastrointestinal tract and prevents their absorption into the bloodstream. It may be useful for some cases of drug overdose, but it is not effective for benzodiazepines as they are rapidly absorbed and distributed in the body.
Acetylcysteine is an antidote for acetaminophen overdose that works by replenishing glutathione, a substance that helps detoxify acetaminophen in the liver. It has no effect on benzodiazepines or their metabolism.
Correct answer: b) Administer flumazenil (Romazicon)
Rationale: Flumazenil is an antidote for benzodiazepine overdose that works by blocking the benzodiazepine receptors in the brain. It can reverse the effects of benzodiazepines such as sedation, respiratory depression, and coma.
Incorrect choices:
a) Administer naloxone (Narcan): Naloxone is an antidote for opioid overdose that works by displacing opioids from their receptors in the brain. It has no effect on benzodiazepines or their receptors.
c) Administer activated charcoal: Activated charcoal is a substance that binds to drugs or toxins in the gastrointestinal tract and prevents their absorption into the bloodstream. It may be useful for some cases of drug overdose, but it is not effective for benzodiazepines as they are rapidly absorbed and distributed in the body.
d) Administer acetylcysteine (Mucomyst): Acetylcysteine is an antidote for acetaminophen overdose that works by replenishing glutathione, a substance that helps detoxify acetaminophen in the liver. It has no effect on benzodiazepines or their metabolism.