A nurse is caring for a client who taking benztropine to treat Parkinson's disease. The nurse should instruct the client to monitor and report which of the following side effects of benztropine?
Bradycardia
Excess salivation
Urinary retention
Diarrhea
The Correct Answer is C
A) Bradycardia:
Benztropine is an anticholinergic medication used to manage the symptoms of Parkinson's disease by blocking the action of acetylcholine. While anticholinergic medications can affect heart rate, bradycardia is not a common side effect of benztropine. In fact, benztropine may have the opposite effect, potentially causing tachycardia (increased heart rate).
B) Excess salivation:
Excessive salivation is typically a symptom of Parkinson's disease itself, due to difficulty swallowing, rather than a side effect of benztropine. In fact, benztropine, as an anticholinergic agent, generally reduces salivation (anticholinergic effect), so this side effect is unlikely to occur with benztropine therapy.
C) Urinary retention:
Benztropine, being an anticholinergic drug, can inhibit the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors in the bladder, leading to urinary retention. This is a common and serious side effect of anticholinergic drugs like benztropine. Urinary retention can lead to discomfort, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and kidney problems if not addressed.
D) Diarrhea:
Benztropine is more likely to cause constipation rather than diarrhea due to its anticholinergic effects. Anticholinergic medications often slow down gastrointestinal motility, leading to constipation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A) Unilateral upper extremity weakness:
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) typically presents with bilateral weakness, not unilateral. The weakness in GBS typically begins symmetrically in the lower extremities and ascends upward toward the upper body, including the arms, face, and respiratory muscles. Therefore, unilateral weakness is not characteristic of GBS, and its presence should prompt further investigation into other possible causes.
B) Bilateral ascending weakness:
One of the hallmark signs of Guillain-Barré Syndrome is ascending weakness, which means that the weakness usually starts in the lower extremities (legs) and progresses upwards to the upper extremities, face, and potentially the respiratory muscles. This bilateral ascending paralysis is a classic feature of GBS and occurs due to the immune system attacking the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves. The nurse should be vigilant for signs of progressive weakness, as GBS can quickly lead to respiratory failure and requires prompt intervention.
C) Mask-like facial expressions:
Mask-like facial expressions are more commonly associated with Parkinson's disease, not Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a reduction in facial expressiveness due to the loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to a fixed, unblinking, or "masked" appearance. While facial involvement can occur in GBS as the weakness ascends, it is not typically described as a "mask-like" expression.
D) Pill rolling actions made by the client's fingers:
Pill-rolling is a characteristic tremor often associated with Parkinson's disease and involves the repetitive motion of the fingers, as if rolling a pill. It is a resting tremor seen in Parkinson's disease and not in Guillain-Barré Syndrome. GBS primarily presents as weakness and loss of motor function, rather than tremors or other involuntary movements.
Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]
Explanation
A) Associated with recent vaccination:
Vaccinations, particularly those for influenza and other viral infections, have been linked to an increased risk of GBS in some cases. This association is believed to be due to an immune response that may trigger the autoimmune attack on the peripheral nervous system, leading to GBS.
B) Associated with tobacco use:
While smoking has been associated with various health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, there is no established direct link between tobacco use and the development of GBS. The pathophysiology of GBS is more strongly related to infections and certain immune responses rather than lifestyle factors like smoking.
C) Recent surgical experience:
It is believed that the stress from surgery, particularly in the presence of an infection or immune response, may trigger the development of GBS. Infections, especially bacterial infections like those caused by Campylobacter jejuni, which is a common antecedent of GBS, can sometimes occur after surgery.
D) Presence of a thymus gland:
The thymus is involved in the immune system, particularly in the development of T-cells, but there is no direct correlation between the thymus gland and the onset of GBS. GBS is more closely related to infections (viral or bacterial), recent vaccinations, or surgery rather than anatomical features like the thymus.
E) Associated with exposure to a recent viral infection:
Viral infections such as Zika virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), influenza, and others can trigger an autoimmune response that leads to the development of GBS. Infections are the most common precipitating factor for GBS, and the immune system’s response to the viral infection may cause the body to mistakenly attack its own peripheral nerves, leading to the symptoms of GBS.
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