ATI RN
Central Nervous System Stimulants and Related Drugs NCLEX Style Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 72-year-old man is brought to his physician by his son. The son complains that this patient has been becoming forgetful, confused, moody, and aggressive over the past few months. One drug that may be used to treat this patient's symptoms is donepezil. Which of the following describes an effect of donepezil?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 2 of 5
A physician has a choice in benzodiazepines to prescribe for patients. A particular patient (a 53-year-old man with anxiety) has a difficult time with compliance to medications. The physician is concerned about the patient going into withdrawal because of abrupt discontinuation of the antianxiety medication. Which of the following medications would have the least severe withdrawal reaction?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 3 of 5
A 33-year-old woman who takes diazepam for anxiety disorder is currently enrolled in an online master's degree program in accounting. She states that she has attended all classes and studied for a final examination. She has never had this type of problem before. However, when she took the examination, she remembered nothing that she studied. What is the most likely explanation for this finding?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 4 of 5
A 21-year-old male has recently begun pimozide therapy for Tourette's disorder. His parents bring him to the emergency department. They describe that he has been having “different appearing tics†than before, such as prolonged contraction of the facial muscles. While being examined, he experiences opsichotomus (type of extrapyramidal spasm of the body in which the head and heels are bent backward and the body is bowed forward). Which of the following drugs would be beneficial in reducing these symptoms?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 5 of 5
Benzodiazepines produce their actions on CNS by:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, lorazepam) are CNS depressants used for anxiety, seizures, and insomnia. They exert effects by binding to a specific allosteric site on the GABAa receptor, enhancing GABA's inhibitory action. GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, opens chloride (Clâ») channels, hyperpolarizing neurons and reducing excitability. Benzodiazepines increase the frequency of channel opening, potentiating this effect, leading to sedation and anxiolysis. Blocking Clâ» channels (choice A) would oppose inhibition, contrary to their purpose. Acting as direct agonists (choice C) is incorrect—they don't activate the receptor alone but amplify GABA's action. Antagonizing GABAb receptors (choice D) is irrelevant, as benzodiazepines target GABAa specifically. This potentiation mechanism underlies their therapeutic utility and risks like tolerance. Understanding this is key to distinguishing benzodiazepines from other CNS drugs and managing their clinical use effectively.