A client prescribed lithium carbonate 300 mg twice daily 3 months ago comes to the Emergency Department with nausea, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and coarse tremors. They notified the provider that they have had flu like symptoms and have not been able to eat or drink. The nurse suspects the client is exhibiting signs of:
toxicity from the lithium carbonate.
developing a tolerance to the lithium carbonate.
stopping their prescribed lithium carbonate.
consuming foods high in tyramine while taking lithium carbonate.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Lithium carbonate is a medication commonly used to treat bipolar disorder. Symptoms of lithium toxicity can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, tremors, and flu-like symptoms. If a client is experiencing these symptoms after taking lithium carbonate, it could indicate lithium toxicity
B. Lithium is a mood stabilizer, and tolerance, in the sense of needing increasing doses to achieve the same effect, is not commonly observed.
C. Suddenly stopping lithium carbonate can lead to withdrawal symptoms, but the symptoms described— nausea, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and tremors—are more indicative of toxicity rather than withdrawal.
D. Tyramine is a compound found in certain foods and beverages, and interactions between tyramine-rich foods and certain medications, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), can lead to hypertensive crises. However, lithium carbonate is not known to have interactions with tyramine-rich foods.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
C. Constricted pupils, also known as miosis, are a classic sign of opioid intoxication. Opioids act on opioid receptors in the brainstem, which can lead to pupillary constriction.
A. Lability of mood refers to rapid and unpredictable changes in mood, which is not a typical finding in opioid intoxication.
B. Hypervigilance is not typically associated with opioid intoxication. Instead, opioid intoxication tends to cause CNS depression, leading to symptoms such as drowsiness, sedation, and impaired consciousness.
D. Opioid intoxication typically causes respiratory depression rather than increased respirations. Opioids depress the central respiratory drive, leading to shallow, slow, or irregular breathing patterns.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
B. In the United States, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08%. A BAC of 0.11 g/dL exceeds this limit, indicating that the client is indeed legally intoxicated.
A. Psychomotor tests, such as field sobriety tests, may be performed to assess the client's level of impairment and determine if they are intoxicated when the BAL is below threshold for intoxication.
C. State laws do not vary in this regard for the legal limit of BAC for driving; however, penalties and specific charges can vary from state to state.
D. A blood alcohol level (BAL) of 0.11 g/dL is above the legal limit for driving in many jurisdictions, where the legal limit is typically set at 0.08 g/dL.
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