The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The client was given a medical prescription for tizanidine. What information would the nurse provide regarding this medication? Tizanidine is
a sleep aid and used to promote sleep along with melatonin.
a muscle relaxant medication used to reduce muscle spasms.
an antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial infections.
an opiate and is used to relieve severe pain.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Tizanidine is a sleep aid and used to promote sleep along with melatonin:
This is incorrect. Tizanidine is not classified as a sleep aid. While muscle relaxants like tizanidine may cause drowsiness as a side effect, its primary purpose is to reduce muscle spasms rather than to promote sleep. Using it in combination with melatonin for sleep would not be appropriate unless specifically prescribed by a healthcare provider.
B. Tizanidine is a muscle relaxant medication used to reduce muscle spasms:
Tizanidine is a centrally acting muscle relaxant that is commonly used to treat muscle spasms and spasticity. In clients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spasticity can be a significant symptom, leading to muscle stiffness and discomfort. Tizanidine helps by relaxing the muscles and alleviating the muscle tightness associated with ALS. It works by inhibiting nerve impulses that cause muscles to contract, thus reducing spasticity and improving mobility. This medication is not intended for sleep promotion or pain relief directly, but rather to manage muscle spasms.
C. Tizanidine is an antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial infections:
This is incorrect. Tizanidine is not an antibiotic and has no role in treating bacterial infections. It is a muscle relaxant used for managing spasticity, not an antimicrobial drug.
D. Tizanidine is an opiate and is used to relieve severe pain:
This is incorrect. Tizanidine is not an opiate and does not belong to the class of opioids. It does not have the pain-relieving effects of opioid analgesics. While it may provide some relief from muscle discomfort, it is not used to treat severe pain in the way opiates like morphine or oxycodone are. Tizanidine’s primary purpose is to address muscle spasticity, not pain management.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Partially compensated metabolic alkalosis:
Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by elevated bicarbonate levels (HCO3), but in this case, the HCO3 is elevated (29 mEq/L), which suggests alkalosis. However, the PaCO2 is elevated at 47 mmHg, which is more consistent with a respiratory problem. A fully or partially compensated metabolic alkalosis would show a normal or low PaCO2 (due to respiratory compensation). Therefore, this option does not fit the ABG results.
B. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis: In this case, the pH is 7.17, which is low and indicates acidosis. The PaCO2 is 47 mmHg, which is elevated (normal range: 35-45 mmHg), indicating that the respiratory system is contributing to the acidosis. The HCO3 is 29 mEq/L, which is elevated (normal range: 22-26 mEq/L), suggesting a compensatory response from the kidneys to retain bicarbonate in an attempt to buffer the acidosis. Since the pH is still below normal and has not yet returned to the normal range (7.35-7.45), this suggests that the compensation is partial and the primary issue is respiratory acidosis.
C. Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis:
This answer is incorrect because metabolic alkalosis is not the primary disturbance here. Also, for a condition to be fully compensated, the pH would need to be within the normal range (7.35-7.45). Since the pH is 7.17, the condition is not fully compensated.
D. Fully compensated respiratory acidosis:
For fully compensated respiratory acidosis, the pH should be within the normal range, as the kidneys would have fully compensated for the elevated PaCO2. Since the pH is 7.17, this is a sign of partial compensation, not full compensation. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A) Partially compensated metabolic alkalosis:
Metabolic alkalosis is typically characterized by an elevated pH and a high bicarbonate level (HCO3 >26 mEq/L). In this scenario, the pH is normal (7.44), and the bicarbonate level (HCO3 18 mEq/L) is low, which does not support a diagnosis of metabolic alkalosis. Furthermore, there is no evidence of compensation by respiratory mechanisms (i.e., low PaCO2). Therefore, this is not a likely diagnosis.
B) Partially compensated metabolic acidosis:
The ABG values indicate metabolic acidosis with a low bicarbonate level (HCO3 18 mEq/L) and a pH of 7.44, which is on the higher end of the normal range. A lower-than-normal bicarbonate level suggests an acidotic state, but the pH is compensating toward normal. The PaCO2 of 30 mmHg indicates a compensatory respiratory alkalosis, which would lower the PaCO2 to try to offset the acidosis. This represents a partially compensated metabolic acidosis, where the body is attempting to compensate for the acidosis but has not fully done so.
C) Fully compensated respiratory acidosis:
Respiratory acidosis is associated with elevated levels of carbon dioxide (PaCO2 >45 mmHg), which leads to a drop in pH. However, in this scenario, the PaCO2 is only 30 mmHg, which is lower than the normal range (35-45 mmHg), indicating that the problem is not respiratory acidosis. Additionally, fully compensated respiratory acidosis would show a normal pH with an elevated PaCO2 and compensatory elevation in bicarbonate levels. Thus, this option does not fit the ABG values.
D) Fully compensated respiratory alkalosis:
Respiratory alkalosis occurs when excessive CO2 is exhaled, leading to an elevated pH and a low PaCO2. Although the PaCO2 is low (30 mmHg), which could suggest respiratory alkalosis, the bicarbonate (HCO3) is low at 18 mEq/L, not high as would be expected in a fully compensated respiratory alkalosis. In a fully compensated state, the pH would be normal (around 7.4), and there would be compensatory changes in both the bicarbonate and PaCO2. Since the bicarbonate is low and the pH is not at normal levels, this diagnosis is not appropriate.
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