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
•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.