A patient is admitted to the psychiatric unit for acute agitation and anxiety. The physician orders a long-acting benzodiazepine. The nurse expects to administer which of the following?

Explanation

•Diazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine with a short onset used to treat anxiety and for sedation. Because it will act quickly and last a longer time, it is the ideal drug for this situation.

•Clonazepam is a longer acting drug, but is not as fast-acting.

•Midazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine.

•Lorazepam is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepines.

•Benzodiazepines are GABA agonists. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

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