Question

A home health nurse is visiting an older adult client who has alzheimer's disease. His caregiver tells the nurse she has been administering prescribed lorazepam 1 mg TID to the client for restlessness and anxiety over the past few days. For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse assess the client?

Answer 1

The nurse should monitor the Alzheimer's patient for adverse effects of lorazepam, such as agitation, anxiety, abnormal heart rhythms, and low blood pressure, alongside other potential issues like sleep disturbances, nausea, vomiting, and muscular problems.

Step-by-step explanation:

A home health nurse is visiting an older adult client with Alzheimer's disease who is taking prescribed lorazepam 1 mg TID for restlessness and anxiety. The nurse should assess the client for several potential adverse effects of lorazepam, a medication belonging to the benzodiazepine class. These include agitation, anxiety, sleep problems, nausea and vomiting, abnormal heart rhythms, low blood pressure, and muscular problems. It is also important to note that benzodiazepines like lorazepam can cause motor disturbances at higher doses, and since the client has Alzheimer's, the nurse should be particularly vigilant for any worsening of neurological symptoms.