A Patient Who Has Been Taking a Benzodiazepine for Panic

question 20

Multiple Choice

A patient who has been taking a benzodiazepine for panic attacks is to be started on buspirone (BuSpar) . Which instruction should the nurse provide?

• A) "Take decreasing doses of the benzodiazepine for several days until the buspirone becomes effective."
• B) "Stop taking the benzodiazepines immediately. Wait 2 days, and then start the buspirone."
• C) "You should take buspirone only once a day. More frequent dosing can cause dependency."
• D) "Tolerance to buspirone may develop in about a month, requiring larger doses to be prescribed."

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Definitions:

Arousal Theory

A theory of motivation that suggests people seek to maintain an optimal level of arousal, not too high or too low, for optimal performance.

Instinct

An innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals in response to certain stimuli, not learned through experience.

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain a stable, constant condition.

Hierarchy of Needs

A theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow that outlines a five-tier model of human needs, ranging from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.