Antianxiety Meds
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For Antianxiety Meds
Outline
Overview
- Anti-anxiety meds (anxiolytics) depress CNS which increases GABA, therefore producing a relaxation effect.
- Most common = Benzodiazepines
Nursing Points
General
- Benzodiazepines
- Reduce anxiety
- Anticonvulsant
- Sedative effect
Nursing Considerations
- General interventions
- Caution:
- Elderly
- Avoid ETOH – enhances sedative effect
- Glaucoma
- Increases fall risk
- Safety first – sedative effects
- Drug-drug Interactions
- Notify MD before starting OTC meds
- Do NOT abruptly stop
- Taper down over weeks
- Caution:
- Watch for signs of withdrawal and toxicity
- Withdrawal
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Tremors, usually hand
- Nausea, vomiting
- Cramping
- Restlessness
- Seizures
Toxicity
- Toxicity
- Antidote: Flumazenil (Romazicon) IV
- Symptoms:
- Confusion and ↓ LOC
- Impaired balance and motor function
- CNS depression
- Possible paradoxical (opposite) reaction:
- Hallucinations
- Aggression
- Can progress to coma, death
Pharm
Concepts Covered:
- Test Taking Strategies
- Medication Administration
- Microbiology
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Vascular Disorders
- Nervous System
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Dosage Calculations
- Immunological Disorders
- Understanding Society
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Circulatory System
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Studying
- Newborn Care
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Respiratory Disorders
- Postoperative Nursing
- Pregnancy Risks
- Neurological
- Postpartum Complications
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Upper GI Disorders
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Bipolar Disorders
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Cardiac Disorders
- Learning Pharmacology
- Psychotic Disorders
- Prenatal Concepts
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Tissues and Glands
- Adult