The nurse is performing a medication history on a patient who reports taking lorazepam (Ativan) for the past 6 months to treat an anxiety disorder. The patient states that the medication is not working as well as previously
The nurse will
a. contact the provider to discuss changing to another benzodiazepine.
b. notify the provider and discuss increasing the dose of lorazepam.
c. suspect worsening of the anxiety disorder.
d. understand that the patient has developed tolerance to this drug.
ANS: D
It is recommended that benzodiazepines be prescribed no longer than 3 or 4 months since the effectiveness lessens after 4 months as patients develop tolerance to the drug. Changing to another benzodiazepine will not change this. Increasing the dose is not indicated. This does not indicate worsening of the underlying disorder.
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