Benzodiazepines NCLEX Questions for nursing students! Benzodiazepines are medications that have anxiolytics, sedative, hypnotic, and anti-seizure properties.
Benzos are medications used to help treat panic attacks, seizures, alcohol withdraw etc. The nurse should be aware of how these medications work, why they are ordered, nursing implications, adverse reactions, and how to teach the patient how to take the medication.
This quiz is part of a pharmacology NCLEX question review series and will include various medications. This series will test your knowledge on nursing implications, side effects, patient teaching, therapeutic effects, and more.
Don’t forget to watch the lecture on benzodiazepines and review the notes before taking the quiz.
Benzodiazepines [Anxiolytic and Sedative-Hypnotic] NCLEX Nursing Questions Quiz
- 1. Which medication below is NOT considered a Benzodiazepine?*
- A. Alprazolam
- B. Lorazepam
- C. Clorazepate
- D. Phenobarbital
- 2. Select ALL the statements below that are INCORRECT about Benzodiazepines?*
- A. "Benzodiazepines are CNS stimulants."
- B. "Benzodiazepines provide the most therapeutic and safest effects when prescribed with opioids."
- C. "Benzodiazepines can be used to treat seizures."
- D. "Narcan is the antidote used to reverse toxicity caused by Benzodiazepines."
- 3. Benzodiazepines amplify the effect of what neurotransmitter?*
- A. Serotonin
- B. Gamma-aminobutyric acid
- C. Acetylcholine
- D. Norepinephrine
- 4. Benzodiazepines can be used to treat all the following conditions except?*
- A. Seizures
- B. Prior to an invasive procedure
- C. Anxiety
- D. Alzheimer's disease
- E. Insomnia
- 5. GABA is a/an ______________ type of neurotransmitter.*
- A. inhibitory
- B. excitatory
- C. modulatory
- 6. Benzodiazepines influence _____________ receptors. These receptors are made up of ___ subunits. It has __ alpha, __ beta, and __ gamma subunits.*
- A. GABAA, 5, 2, 2, 1
- B. GABAB, 5, 2, 2, 1
- C. GABAA, 4, 1, 2, 1
- D. GABAA, 4, 1, 2, 1
- 7. True or False: The GABA receptor that Benzodiazepines influence has 2 binding sites for the neurotransmitter GABA which is found between each alpha and beta subunit, and 1 binding site for Benzodiazepine which is found between the alpha and gamma subunit.*
- True
- False
- 8. Which patient below is at MOST risk for an injury or toxicity due to being prescribed a Benzodiazepine?
- A. "A 28-year-old with a history of seizures."
- B. "A 78-year-old receiving dialysis."
- C. "A 45-year-old who is post-op day 2 from a femoral popliteal bypass."
- D. "A 36-year-old receiving treatment for gastritis."
- 9. You're providing education to a patient who is prescribed to take a Benzodiazepine for panic attacks. Which statements below require you to re-educate the patient about this medication? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY:*
- A. "I will monitor my consumption of alcohol and limit myself to 5 beers a day."
- B. "Driving is not recommended while taking this medication."
- C. "I will take this medication with Oxycodone to help prevent panic attacks."
- D. "Signs of toxicity include slow heart rate, decreased respiration, extreme drowsiness, and slurred speech."
- 10. Your patient is prescribed a second dose of a Benzodiazepine. Before administration of the medication you assess the patient and find that the patient is extremely confused, agitated, and their speech is slurred. The patient is reporting seeing dark figures in their room and is unable to coordinate movements. Your next nursing action is to?*
- A. Document the patient findings, continue to monitor the patient, and administer the medication as ordered
- B. Administer the medication as ordered, this is an expected side effect of this medication
- C. Hold the medication, notify the doctor, and document findings
- D. Skip this dose of the medication, continue to monitor the patient, document findings, and administer the next scheduled dose as ordered
- 11. The antidote for Benzodiazepines is what medication below?*
- A. Protamine Sulfate
- B. Acetylcysteine
- C. Physostigmine
- D. Flumazenil
- E. Fomepizole
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Benzodiazepines [Anxiolytic and Sedative-Hypnotic] NCLEX Nursing Questions Quiz
1. Which medication below is NOT considered a Benzodiazepine?
A. Alprazolam
B. Lorazepam
C. Clorazepate
D. Phenobarbital
The answer is D. Phenobarbital is a barbiturate. How you can recognize a Benzodiazepine is that the middle of the generic drug name will have either “ze” or “zo” and most end with “pam” or “lam” expect Clorazepate and Chlordiazepoxide.
2. Select ALL the statements below that are INCORRECT about Benzodiazepines?
A. “Benzodiazepines are CNS stimulants.”
B. “Benzodiazepines provide the most therapeutic and safest effects when prescribed with opioids.”
C. “Benzodiazepines can be used to treat seizures.”
D. “Narcan is the antidote used to reverse toxicity caused by Benzodiazepines.”
The answers are A, B, and D. Benzodiazepines are CNS depressants, they should NOT be used with opioids [the FDA has issued a black box warning on this due to the increased risk of overdose], and Flumazenil is the antidote for Benzodiazepines.
3. Benzodiazepines amplify the effect of what neurotransmitter?
A. Serotonin
B. Gamma-aminobutyric acid
C. Acetylcholine
D. Norepinephrine
The answer is B. Benzodiazepines amplify the effect of Gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA].
4. Benzodiazepines can be used to treat all the following conditions except?
A. Seizures
B. Prior to an invasive procedure
C. Anxiety
D. Alzheimer’s disease
E. Insomnia
The answer is D. Benzodiazepines are not prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
5. GABA is a/an ______________ type of neurotransmitter.
A. inhibitory
B. excitatory
C. modulatory
The answer is A. GABA is an inhibitory type of neurotransmitter.
6. Benzodiazepines influence _____________ receptors. These receptors are made up of ___ subunits. It has __ alpha, __ beta, and __ gamma subunits.
A. GABAA, 5, 2, 2, 1
B. GABAB, 5, 2, 2, 1
C. GABAA, 4, 1, 2, 1
D. GABAA, 4, 1, 2, 1
The answer is A. Benzodiazepines influences GABAA receptors. These receptors are made up of 5 subunits. It has 2 alpha, 2 beta, and 1 gamma subunits.
7. True or False: The GABA receptor that Benzodiazepines influence has 2 binding sites for the neurotransmitter GABA which is found between each alpha and beta subunit, and 1 binding site for Benzodiazepine which is found between the alpha and gamma subunit.
TRUE: This statement is a true statement about Benzodiazepines and GABAA RECEPTORS.
8. Which patient below is at MOST risk for an injury or toxicity due to being prescribed a Benzodiazepine?
A. “A 28-year-old with a history of seizures.”
B. “A 78-year-old receiving dialysis.”
C. “A 45-year-old who is post-op day 2 from a femoral popliteal bypass.”
D. “A 36-year-old receiving treatment for gastritis.”
The answer is B. Older adults are at risk for toxicity, dependence, and injuries [falls, accidents etc.] related to Benzos usage. The American Geriatric Society actually created a list called the BEERS List and Benzos is a group of medications the group recommends avoiding in older adults. In addition, this patient has compromised renal function and needs dialysis which increases their risk of toxicity/injury as well.
9. You’re providing education to a patient who is prescribed to take a Benzodiazepine for panic attacks. Which statements below require you to re-educate the patient about this medication? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY:
A. “I will monitor my consumption of alcohol and limit myself to 5 beers a day.”
B. “Driving is not recommended while taking this medication.”
C. “I will take this medication with Oxycodone to help prevent panic attacks.”
D. “Signs of toxicity include slow heart rate, decreased respiration, extreme drowsiness, and slurred speech.”
The answers are A and C. Patients taking Benzo should AVOID alcohol consumption and opioids [Oxycodone].
10. Your patient is prescribed a second dose of a Benzodiazepine. Before administration of the medication you assess the patient and find that the patient is extremely confused, agitated, and their speech is slurred. The patient is reporting seeing dark figures in their room and is unable to coordinate movements. Your next nursing action is to?
A. Document the patient findings, continue to monitor the patient, and administer the medication as ordered
B. Administer the medication as ordered, this is an expected side effect of this medication
C. Hold the medication, notify the doctor, and document findings
D. Skip this dose of the medication, continue to monitor the patient, document findings, and administer the next scheduled dose as ordered
The answer is C: Based on the findings the patient is experiencing toxicity or overdose of the Benzo. The nurse should not administer the dose but notify the doctor about the findings who will give additional ordered. In addition, the nurse should document.
11. The antidote for Benzodiazepines is what medication below?
A. Protamine Sulfate
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Physostigmine
D. Flumazenil
E. Fomepizole
The answer is D: Flumazenil is the antidote for Benzos.
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