Which potential side effect of Buspirone is important to include when providing patient teaching?
Drowsiness.
Sleep paralysis.
Dizziness.
Behavioral changes.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Drowsiness is a common and important side effect of many anxiolytics, especially benzodiazepines, due to their central nervous system depressant properties. However, a key advantage of Buspirone is its lack of significant sedation, as it is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic that acts as a partial serotonin (5-HT_1A) agonist, making drowsiness less pronounced and less of a critical teaching point compared to other options.
Choice B rationale
Sleep paralysis, a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up, is a parasomnia, sometimes associated with narcolepsy or stress. It is not a commonly reported or clinically significant side effect directly linked to the partial serotonin (5-HT_1A) agonism mechanism of action of Buspirone.
Choice C rationale
Dizziness is a very common side effect of Buspirone because of its effect on serotonin receptors and potentially some impact on blood pressure regulation upon standing, known as orthostatic hypotension. It is crucial patient teaching to help prevent falls and ensure safety, especially when first starting the medication or changing positions.
Choice D rationale
While some behavioral changes can occur with psychotropic medications, Buspirone is generally well-tolerated with a low risk of dependency or major behavioral disturbances. It does not possess the same potential for paradoxical excitement or disinhibition commonly seen with other anxiolytics like benzodiazepines.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Granting extra privileges solely based on voluntary admission status contradicts the principle of a therapeutic milieu, which aims for consistent and equitable application of rules and expectations for all patients. Differential treatment can disrupt the communal environment and foster feelings of inequality, potentially hindering the sense of safety and promoting resentment, thereby undermining the goal of promoting psychological healing and emotional security within the unit.
Choice B rationale
A therapeutic milieu is scientifically designed to create a safe, structured, and emotionally supportive environment, utilizing the entire setting—people, structure, and activities—as a treatment modality. This structure provides a predictable and consistent reality, reducing anxiety, fostering a sense of security, and promoting behavioral and emotional regulation, which are critical elements for psychological healing and the development of adaptive coping mechanisms in patients.
Choice C rationale
Rigidly enforcing rules and limits is necessary for a successful therapeutic milieu, as consistency provides a stable external structure that helps patients, especially those with impaired reality testing or impulse control, to feel safe and understand behavioral expectations. Flexibility can introduce ambiguity and instability, which may increase anxiety and undermine the predictability essential for establishing trust and promoting patient responsibility within the unit.
Choice D rationale
Frequent negative feedback is counterproductive to a therapeutic milieu, which emphasizes positive reinforcement and constructive guidance to promote growth and self-esteem. Constant criticism, even if intended to modify behavior, can lead to feelings of shame, defensiveness, and withdrawal, thereby damaging the therapeutic relationship and reducing the patient's willingness to engage in treatment and adopt more adaptive behaviors.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Serotonin 5HT_2 receptors are targeted by many atypical antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. Blocking these receptors is associated with desired effects like improved mood and reduced psychosis, but also with side effects like weight gain or hypotension. It is not the primary mechanism responsible for dry mouth, constipation, and blurred vision, which are characteristic anticholinergic effects.
Choice B rationale
Acetylcholine (ACh) receptors, specifically muscarinic receptors, are blocked by many psychotropic drugs, especially older antidepressants and antipsychotics. This anticholinergic action inhibits parasympathetic nervous system responses, leading to the classic peripheral side effects: dry mouth (xerostomia), constipation (decreased peristalsis), and blurred vision (mydriasis/cycloplegia), which are directly mediated by ACh blockade.
Choice C rationale
Alpha-1 (α_1) adrenergic receptors are blocked by many psychotropic agents, especially antipsychotics. Blocking these receptors causes vasodilation and is primarily associated with orthostatic hypotension (dizziness upon standing) and reflex tachycardia. While it may sometimes contribute to overall side effect burden, it is not the direct cause of the triad of dry mouth, constipation, and blurred vision.
Choice D rationale
Histamine (H_1) receptors are blocked by many psychotropic drugs, particularly those with sedative properties. This blockade primarily leads to side effects such as sedation, drowsiness, and weight gain. While it contributes to the overall side effect profile, it is not the main pharmacological mechanism responsible for the distinct cluster of dry mouth, constipation, and blurred vision symptoms.
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