An older client being treated for pneumonia is given a sedative to sleep. A few hours afterwards, the client has a respiratory rate of 12 and cannot be aroused. What does this assessment finding indicate to the nurse?
1. The sedative was not absorbed.
2. The sedative has reached a therapeutic blood level.
3. The medication for sleep caused excessive sedation.
4. The client is experiencing complications of pneumonia.
3. The medication for sleep caused excessive sedation.
Explanation: 1. It is not lack of absorption because of the excessive sedative effect.
2. Although sleep is desired, clients should be able to awaken after sedation. This is not a therapeutic effect.
3. Pharmacodynamic changes, which affect how the drug affects the body, can also occur because of the aging process. However, it is not always clear if changes in therapeutic responses are due to the pharmacodynamics or to the altered pharmacokinetics. An increased drug-receptor response can occur with benzodiazepines resulting in increased sedation.
4. Complications of pneumonia would present with labored respirations and other associated symptoms.
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