Exam #2 Question&answer

A patient is admitted to the emergency department with spasms of his face and neck. He has recently begun taking chlorpromazine to treat schizophrenia. Which of the following adverse reactions should the health are professional suspect? 1. Cholinergic crisis 2. Stevens-Johnson syndrome 3. Acute dystonia 4. Serotonin syndrome {Ans: Answer 3. Rationale: Acute dystonia can develop during the first few days of treatment with chlorpromazine. Manifestations include muscle spasms of the back, neck, face, and tongue. Treatment includes immediate administration of an anticholinergic drug, such as diphenhydramine.}A health care professional should include which of the following instructions when talking with a patient about levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet) to treat Parkinson's disease? 1. Take the drug at bedtime to avoid daytime drowsiness. 2. Eat a protein snack to increase absorption. 3. Change position slowly to prevent orthostatic hypotension. 4. Expect eye twitching to develop with long-term therapy. {Ans: Answer 3. Rationale: Levodopa/carbidopa can cause orthostatic hypotension. Options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect. Patients typically take levodopa/carbidopa in divided doses during the day. High-protein foods can reduce the effectiveness of levodopa/carbidopa. Taking levodopa/carbidopa with non-protein sources of food, however, can help reduce adverse GI effects. Muscle twitching can indicate drug toxicity.