A client with a head injury asks why he cannot have something for his headache. The nurse's response is based on the understanding that analgesics could:

The correct answer is C. Mask symptoms of increasing intracranial pressure. (A) Analgesic medication does not counteract the effects of antibiotics. (B) Analgesic medication may lower blood pressure elevated due to anxiety. (C) Analgesic medication, especially CNS depressants, is not given if there is danger of increasing ICP, because neurological change

Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

Question

Options

ACounteract the effects of antibiotics
BElevate the blood pressure
CMask symptoms of increasing intracranial pressure
DStimulate the central nervous system

How the community answered

(34 responses)

A
12% (4)
B
3% (1)
C
79% (27)
D
6% (2)

Explanation

(A) Analgesic medication does not counteract the effects of antibiotics. (B) Analgesic medication may lower blood pressure elevated due to anxiety. (C) Analgesic medication, especially CNS depressants, is not given if there is danger of increasing ICP, because neurological changes may not be apparent. Also, further depression of the CNS is contraindicated. (D) Analgesics do not stimulate the CNS.

Topics

#head injury#analgesics#intracranial pressure#neurological masking

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