Description
73.) A client with myasthenia gravis is suspected of having cholinergic crisis. Which of the following
indicate that this crisis exists?
1. Ataxia
2. Mouth sores
3. Hypotension
4. Hypertension 4. Hypertension
Rationale:
Cholinergic crisis occurs as a result of an overdose of medication. Indications of cholinergic crisis include
gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, increased salivation and
tearing, miosis, hypertension, sweating, and increased bronchial secretions.
74.) A client with myasthenia gravis is receiving pyridostigmine (Mestinon). The nurse monitors forsigns
and symptoms of cholinergic crisis caused by overdose of the medication. The nurse checks the
medication supply to ensure that which medication is available for administration if a cholinergic crisis
occurs?
1. Vitamin K
2. Atropine sulfate
3. Protamine sulfate
4. Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) 2. Atropine sulfate
Rationale:
The antidote for cholinergic crisis is atropine sulfate. Vitamin K isthe antidote for warfarin (Coumadin).
Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin, and acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) is the antidote for
acetaminophen (Tylenol).
75.) A client with myasthenia gravis becomes increasingly weak. The health care provider prepares to
identify whether the client is reacting to an overdose of the medication (cholinergic crisis) or increasing
severity of the disease (myasthenic crisis). An injection of edrophonium (Enlon) is administered. Which
of the following indicates that the client is in cholinergic crisis?
1. No change in the condition
2. Complaints of muscle spasms
3. An improvement of the weakness
4. A temporary worsening of the condition 4. A temporary worsening of the condition
Rationale:
An edrophonium (Enlon) injection, a cholinergic drug, makes the client in cholinergic crisis temporarily
worse. This is known as a negative test. An improvement of weakness would occur if the client were
experiencing myasthenia gravis. Options 1 and 2 would not occur in either crisis.
76.) Carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet) is prescribed for a client with Parkinson's disease, and the nurse
monitorsthe client for adverse reactionsto the medication. Which of the following indicates that the
client is experiencing an adverse reaction?