A 77-year-old woman who experiences significant anxiety has been taking diazepam for several months
She was brought to the clinical earlier this week by her daughter, who stated that her mother had been behaving in an uncharacteristically confused manner. The clinician discontinued the patient's diazepam. Three days later, the daughter states that her mother has still been having problems with impaired memory and confusion. The nurse should consider what possible explanation for the patient's current status? A) Benzodiazepines can occasionally cause permanent alterations in personality and level of consciousness.
B) The patient may have decreased liver function.
C) The patient may have been experiencing a hypersensitivity to the drug, rather than an adverse effect.
D) The adverse effects of benzodiazepines can persist for several days after stopping the drug.
D
Feedback:
Both therapeutic effects and adverse effects of diazepam are more likely to occur after 2 or 3 days of therapy than initially. Such effects accumulate with chronic usage and persist for several days after the drug is discontinued. Hypersensitivity and decreased liver function are unlikely. Benzodiazepines do not cause permanent changes in cognition.
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