Question

While shopping at a mall, a woman experiences an episode of extreme terror accompanied by anxiety, tachycardia, trembling, and fear of going crazy. A friend drives her to the emergency department, where a physician rules out physiological causes and refers her to the psychiatric resident on call. To control the client's anxiety, the nurse caring for this client expects the resident to prescribe:

1. haloperidol (Haldol).
2. lorazepam (Ativan).
3. bupropion (Wellbutrin).
4. paroxetine (Paxil).

Answer 1

The nurse expects the psychiatric resident to prescribe lorazepam (Ativan) to control the client's acute anxiety symptoms, as it is a benzodiazepine effective for short-term treatment of anxiety.

Step-by-step explanation:

To control the client's anxiety following an episode of extreme terror accompanied by tachycardia, trembling, and fear, the nurse caring for this client expects the psychiatric resident to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication. Among the options provided, lorazepam (Ativan) is the appropriate choice as it is a benzodiazepine known for treating short-term symptoms of anxiety due to its action on the central nervous system, providing sedation, muscle relaxation, and decreased anxiety. Other drugs mentioned, such as haloperidol (Haldol), an antipsychotic, and bupropion (Wellbutrin), an antidepressant, are not primary treatments for acute anxiety episodes, whereas paroxetine (Paxil), an selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is not intended for immediate relief of anxiety symptoms.