A patient who has Parkinson disease is being treated with the anticholinergic medication benztropine (Cogentin). The nurse will tell the patient that this drug will have which effect?

Reducing some of the tremors

Improving mental function

Helping the patient to walk faster

Minimizing symptoms of bradykinesia

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A) Reducing some of the tremors: Benztropine (Cogentin) is an anticholinergic medication commonly used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease to help manage symptoms. It works by blocking the effects of acetylcholine, which can help to restore the balance between acetylcholine and dopamine in the brain. This helps reduce symptoms like tremors and rigidity, which are common in Parkinson’s disease. Although it may not completely eliminate these symptoms, it can significantly reduce tremors, making this the most accurate effect of the drug.

B) Improving mental function: Benztropine is not intended to improve mental function. In fact, anticholinergic medications like benztropine can sometimes cause cognitive side effects, including memory problems or confusion, particularly in older patients. While the drug is effective in reducing motor symptoms, it is not used to enhance cognitive abilities in Parkinson’s disease.

C) Helping the patient to walk faster: Benztropine does not directly improve gait speed or help a patient walk faster. The drug primarily targets motor symptoms like tremors and rigidity rather than improving bradykinesia (slowness of movement), which is often the cause of walking difficulty in Parkinson’s patients. Medications such as levodopa or dopamine agonists are typically used to address issues related to bradykinesia and movement speed.

D) Minimizing symptoms of bradykinesia: While benztropine can help manage tremors and rigidity, it is not particularly effective for bradykinesia, which is the hallmark symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Bradykinesia is best addressed with dopaminergic medications like levodopa or dopamine agonists. Therefore, benztropine would not be the first choice for minimizing bradykinesia symptoms.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A) A 41-year-old man with kidney stones:
Kidney stones primarily affect the urinary system, and while the kidneys play a role in drug excretion, kidney stones themselves do not directly interfere with drug metabolism. Drug metabolism occurs mainly in the liver, so alterations due to kidney stones would be less likely. The liver is where most drug metabolism takes place, so drug metabolism in this case would likely be unaffected by kidney stones.

B) A 62-year-old woman with acute renal failure:
Acute renal failure impacts the kidneys' ability to filter and excrete drugs, but it doesn't directly affect the liver's ability to metabolize drugs. Renal failure can lead to drug accumulation due to decreased clearance, but metabolism (primarily liver function) is not usually altered unless the patient also has hepatic dysfunction.

C) A 35-year-old woman with cervical cancer:
Cervical cancer itself does not directly affect drug metabolism. While cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy can affect liver and kidney function (which could impact drug metabolism), cervical cancer itself does not typically alter the metabolic pathways that drugs undergo in the body.

D) A 50-year-old man with cirrhosis of the liver:
Cirrhosis of the liver significantly impacts the liver's ability to metabolize drugs. The liver is the primary organ responsible for drug metabolism, and cirrhosis can lead to a decreased ability to break down medications, potentially resulting in drug toxicity or suboptimal therapeutic effects.

A. Excessive salivation B. Respiratory paralysis C. Muscle weakness D. Muscle spasms

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A) Excessive salivation: Neostigmine (Prostigmin) is a cholinesterase inhibitor, which works by increasing the levels of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions. If a dose is missed, excessive salivation can be a side effect of too much acetylcholine activity, but it is not the most immediate symptom in this case. Muscle weakness is a more direct consequence of a missed dose.

B) Respiratory paralysis: While respiratory weakness or paralysis can occur in myasthenia gravis, it is usually associated with a severe form of the disease or if the patient is in a myasthenic crisis. A single missed dose of neostigmine typically does not result in respiratory failure unless the patient is already in a very fragile state.

C) Muscle weakness: Neostigmine helps to improve neuromuscular transmission by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is crucial for muscle contraction. A missed dose would directly lead to a reduction in acetylcholine levels, exacerbating the characteristic muscle weakness of myasthenia gravis. Muscle weakness is the most anticipated symptom when neostigmine is not administered on time.

D) Muscle spasms: Muscle spasms are typically not a symptom of missed neostigmine therapy. Instead, muscle weakness occurs due to impaired neuromuscular transmission. Spasms might occur if there is significant overstimulation of the muscles, but this is more associated with electrolyte imbalances or other neuromuscular issues

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A patient who has Parkinson disease is being treated with the anticholinergic medication benztropine (Cogentin). The nurse will tell the patient that this drug will have which effect?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Drugs do not metabolize the same way in all people. For what patient would a nurse expect to assess for an alteration in drug metabolism?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The nurse assumes care of a patient who has myasthenia gravis and notes that a dose of neostigmine (Prostigmin) due 1 hour prior was not given. The nurse will anticipate the patient to exhibit which symptoms?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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