Chapter 59  Antiemetic Agents

Chapter 59  Antiemetic Agents

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1. A high school student starts vomiting and goes to see the school nurse. The student asks the nurse what
part of his brain makes him vomit. What area of the brain will the nurse tell the student must be
stimulated for vomiting to occur?

A) Chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ)

B) Forebrain

C) Hypothalamus

D) Thalamus

Ans: A

Feedback:

The CTZ has to be stimulated in order for vomiting to occur. The GI mucosa, hypothalamus, and
thalamus are not associated with eliciting vomiting. The forebrain, hypothalamus, and thalamus have
no part in vomiting.

2. A 25-pound child is in the clinic because of vomiting the last 24 hours. The nurse is to administer
trimethobenzamide (Tigan). What dose will the nurse administer by what route?

A) 0.25 mg IV

B) 1.1 mg/kg IM

C) 100 mg rectally

D) 200 mg orally

Ans: C

Feedback:

The nurse will administer 100 mg rectally. The other doses are inappropriate. A usual dose of
palonosetron for an adult is 0.25 mg IV. A usual dose of hydroxyzine for a child is 1.1 mg/kg IM, and a
usual dose of trimethobenzamide for a child weighing more than 30 pounds is 200 mg orally.

3. The clinic nurse is caring for a 55-year-old farmer who has been prescribed an antiemetic for an inner
ear problem. The patient states ​I need to get back to work.​ With this patient especially, what will the
nurse caution him about?

Test Bank – Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (7th Edition by Amy Karch) 964

A) Weight gain

B) Suicidal ideation

C) Diarrhea

D) Photosensitivity

Ans: D

Feedback:

Photosensitivity is a common adverse reaction with many antiemetics. The nurse should advise the
patient to use sunscreen and wear protective garments if exposure cannot be avoided, which is unlikely
considering the patient’s occupation. Weight gain, suicidal ideation, and diarrhea have not been
identified as adverse effects of antiemetics.

4. A female college student with migraine headaches that cause nausea and vomiting has been prescribed
trimethobenzamide (Tigan). It is important for the nurse to caution the student to avoid using what?

A) St. John’s wort

B) Calcium channel blockers

C) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

D) Alcohol

Ans: D

Feedback:

Locally acting antiemetics depress areas of the CNS. If combined with other CNS depressants, such as
alcohol, patients could experience increasing CNS depression including dizziness and somnolence. St.
John’s wort, calcium channel blockers, and SSRIs are not CNS depressants.

5. A cancer patient is in the outpatient department to receive chemotherapy. The nurse administers
prochlorperazine (Compazine) prophylactically before the infusion. What will the nurse’s teaching for
this patient include?

A) Avoid driving or any dangerous activities if dizziness or drowsiness occurs.

B) Cover the head in extreme of temperatures.

C) Take extra precautions to avoid heat stroke.

D) Check blood pressure at home on a regular basis.

Ans: A

Feedback:

Prochlorperazine is an antiemetic that can cause dizziness and drowsiness. A patient who is taking it
should be advised not to drive or undertake dangerous activities if these adverse effects occur. The drug
does not cause heat loss or inability to sweat that may lead to heat stroke. This drug should not affect
blood pressure, so there is no need to test for it.