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A 49-year-old painter who recently fractured his tibia worries about his finances because he can't work. To treat his anxiety, his physician prescribes buspirone (BuSpar), 5 mg by mouth three times per day. During buspirone therapy, the client should avoid which of the following drugs?

1. Beta-adrenergic blockers
2. Antineoplastic drugs
3. Antiparkinsonian drugs
4. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors

User Tesfa
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Final answer:

The medication that should be avoided during buspirone therapy is monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors due to the risk of serotonin syndrome, which can be potentially life-threatening.

Step-by-step explanation:

During buspirone therapy, the client should avoid taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Buspirone is an anxiolytic medication that is used to treat anxiety disorders. It works differently from other anxiolytics such as benzodiazepines as it does not exhibit the same sedative and muscle relaxant effects. MAO inhibitors are a class of antidepressants that can lead to high levels of serotonin in the brain and may cause dangerous interactions if taken with buspirone, leading to a serious condition known as serotonin syndrome. This interaction can have potentially life-threatening effects, hence it is important for the client to avoid MAO inhibitors while taking buspirone.

Anti-anxiety medications, including buspirone and benzodiazepines, are often prescribed to manage various psychiatric disorders. While beta-adrenergic blockers are sometimes used to manage the physical symptoms of anxiety, they are not contraindicated with buspirone as MAO inhibitors are. It is important for healthcare providers to carefully consider potential drug interactions when prescribing psychoactive drugs.

User Yam
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