The nurse is preparing to administer medications to a group of patients. One of the medications is benztropine (Cogentin), an anticholinergic drug. This drug is contraindicated in which patient?

Question

1. The patient with a fractured femur
2. The patient with tachycardia
3. The patient with an irritable colon
4. The patient with diarrhea

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: There is no contraindication with a fractured femur and anticholinergic drugs.
Rationale 2: Anticholinergic drugs increase the heart rate; a patient with tachycardia should not receive benztropine (Cogentin).
Rationale 3: Anticholinergic drugs slow gastrointestinal (GI) motility; this would help with an irritable colon.
Rationale 4: Anticholinergic drugs slow gastrointestinal (GI) motility; this would help with diarrhea.
Global Rationale: Anticholinergic drugs increase the heart rate; a patient with tachycardia should not receive benztropine (Cogentin). Anticholinergic drugs slow gastrointestinal (GI) motility; this would help with an irritable colon. Anticholinergic drugs slow gastrointestinal (GI) motility; this would help with diarrhea. There is no contraindication with a fractured femur and anticholinergic drugs.