CH 20 Flashcards
What is anxiety ?
An unpleasant feeling of tension, fear, or nervousness in response to an environmental stimulus, whether real or imaginary.
What is an anxiolytic?
A drug used to suppress the CNS: prevents and reduces the signs and symptoms of anxiety
What is a barbiturate?
The former mainstay class of drug used for:
* Anxiety
* Sedation
* Sleep induction
However it is associated with potentially severe side effects and many drug to drug interactions, which has made it less desireable.
What is a benzodiazepine?
A class of drug that acts on the limbic system producing GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmittor.
What do we mean by hypnosis?
Extreme sedation resulting in CNS depression and sleep
What is a hypnotic?
Drug used to depress the CNS: causes sleep
What do we mean by sedation?
Loss of awareness and reaction environmental stimuli
What is a sedative?
a drug that depresses the CNS: produces a loss of awareness and of reaction to the environment
What Are important nursing assessments when prescribing anxiolytic and hypnotic medications?
Full CNS/Neuro exam
Kidney and liver function
Current medications (precribed and OTC)
Respiratory assessment
Vital signs
Weight baseline
What actions do we expect from Benzodiazepines
- Act in the limbic system and the RAS
- Make GABA more effective
- Causes interference with neurons firing
- Lower doses exist with enxiety
- higher doses cause sedation and hypnosis
What are the indicated uses for Benzodiazepines?
Anxiety disorders
Alcohol withdrawal
hyperexcitability
preoperative relief of anxiety
Are benzodiazepines recommended for long term use?
No, they are not recommended for more than 6 months
Where are benzodiazepines absorbed, metabolized and excreted?
Absorbed in the GI tract, metabolized in the liver and excreted primarily in the urine (kidneys)
Do benzodiazepines cross the placenta and enter the breast milk?
yes
Are benzodiazepines addictive?
Yes, they are schedule IV Highly addictive