A student asks the pharmacology instructor to explain the action of anticholinergic agents.
What would be the instructor's best response?

Choice A rationale

Ethosuximide (Zarontin) is used to treat absence seizures and is not suitable for emergency control of status epilepticus. It primarily works by affecting the T-type calcium channels in the brain.

Choice B rationale

Diazepam (Valium) is used in the emergency control of status epilepticus due to its fast-acting anticonvulsant properties. It enhances the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA, leading to an inhibitory effect on neuronal activity.

Choice C rationale

Phenobarbital (Luminal) is a barbiturate used for long-term management of epilepsy but is less preferred for immediate emergency control of status epilepticus due to its slower onset of action.

Choice D rationale

Phenytoin (Dilantin) can be used for the maintenance treatment of seizures, but it is less effective for the immediate control of status epilepticus compared to benzodiazepines like diazepam.

Choice A rationale

Administering the medication even if the name of the drug can be clearly read is risky because the rest of the label might contain essential information like dosage, expiration date, and other critical instructions. Administering a medication without complete labeling increases the risk of medication errors.

Choice B rationale

Discarding the entire bottle and contents and obtaining a new bottle is the safest option. It ensures that the nurse is using a medication with a fully intact label, which includes all necessary information to safely administer the medication, such as dosage, route, and expiration date.

Choice C rationale

Asking another nurse to verify the contents of the bottle is not sufficient because the torn and soiled label still lacks complete information. Without all details, there's a risk of administering the wrong dosage or an expired medication.

Choice D rationale

Finding the drug information and making a new label for the bottle is not appropriate because it does not guarantee the accuracy of the dosage or other critical details that were on the original label. It's better to use a completely labeled and verified medication bottle.