A nurse is caring for a client who has been taking lorazepam (Ativan) for anxiety and insomnia for several months. The client tells the nurse that he wants to stop taking the medication because he feels better now. Which of the following responses should the nurse give?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A.
\u201cYou can stop taking the medication as long as you taper off gradually.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
B.
\u201cYou should continue taking the medication until your doctor tells you to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C.
\u201cYou can stop taking the medication immediately without any problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
D.
\u201cYou should switch to a non-benzodiazepine medication instead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The correct answer and Explanation is :<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n The correct response is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n B. \u201cYou should continue taking the medication until your doctor tells you to stop.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lorazepam (Ativan) is a benzodiazepine commonly used for its anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and sedative properties. It is important for clients taking this medication to follow a healthcare provider’s instructions regarding its discontinuation. Abruptly stopping lorazepam, especially after extended use, can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, agitation, and in severe cases, seizures. This is due to the physiological dependence that can develop with long-term use of benzodiazepines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s why the other options are not appropriate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A. \u201cYou can stop taking the medication as long as you taper off gradually.\u201d<\/strong> C. \u201cYou can stop taking the medication immediately without any problems.\u201d<\/strong> D. \u201cYou should switch to a non-benzodiazepine medication instead.\u201d<\/strong> In summary, the best course of action is to encourage the client to consult with their healthcare provider before making any changes to their medication regimen. The healthcare provider can assess the client\u2019s condition and develop an appropriate plan for tapering off lorazepam safely or considering alternative treatments if needed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A nurse is caring for a client who has been taking lorazepam (Ativan) for anxiety and insomnia for several months. The client tells the nurse that he wants to stop taking the medication because he feels better now. Which of the following responses should the nurse give? A.\u201cYou can stop taking the medication as long […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-140345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-exams-certification"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140345"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140345\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Explanation:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While tapering off gradually is generally a recommended approach for discontinuing benzodiazepines, it should not be done independently by the client. The tapering schedule should be specifically tailored to the individual\u2019s needs by a healthcare provider. Thus, it\u2019s important to consult with a doctor before making any changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is incorrect because stopping lorazepam abruptly can result in withdrawal symptoms and potentially severe complications. It\u2019s crucial to follow a structured plan for discontinuation under medical supervision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Switching to a different medication might be an option, but it should be discussed and decided upon with the guidance of a healthcare provider. The decision to change medication involves considering the client\u2019s current health status, needs, and potential benefits and risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n