RAK Nursing Officer - 2019
Pharmacology
Easy
The drug which is used to create aversion in alcohol dependence:?
Appeared in: RAK Nursing Officer - 2019
Explanation
- Disulfiram is specifically designed as an aversion therapy agent for alcohol dependence.
- It works by inhibiting the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, which is crucial for alcohol metabolism.
- This inhibition leads to the accumulation of acetaldehyde upon alcohol consumption, causing a highly unpleasant physical reaction known as the Disulfiram-Ethanol Reaction (DER).
- The fear of experiencing the severe symptoms of DER (nausea, vomiting, headache, flushing) serves as a powerful deterrent to drinking alcohol.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Apomorphine is an emetic (induces vomiting) and has been used historically for aversion therapy, but it is not the standard or primary drug for this purpose in modern practice. Its primary use is in treating Parkinson's disease.
- Option B: Propranolol is a beta-blocker used to manage the physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, such as tremors, anxiety, and elevated heart rate. It does not create an aversion to alcohol.
- Option C: Diazepam is a benzodiazepine used to manage acute alcohol withdrawal, particularly to prevent and treat severe complications like seizures and delirium tremens. It does not create an aversion to alcohol.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol Dependence helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
- A key nursing responsibility is comprehensive patient education. Patients must be warned to avoid all products containing alcohol, including less obvious ones like mouthwash, cough syrup, and some vinegars, to prevent an accidental and potentially dangerous reaction.
- The Disulfiram-Ethanol Reaction can be severe and, in rare cases, lead to cardiovascular collapse, myocardial infarction, and death. Nurses must assess patients for contraindications like significant heart or liver disease before therapy begins.
- What if? If a patient on Disulfiram accidentally consumes alcohol and reports severe chest pain and shortness of breath, the nurse must initiate an emergency response immediately. This is a medical emergency requiring supportive care to manage potential cardiovascular collapse and respiratory depression.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key concept in the question stem: 'create aversion in alcohol dependence'. This points to a specific therapeutic strategy.
- Next, review the options, which are all pharmacological agents. Your task is to match the therapeutic strategy (aversion) with the correct drug.
- Recall or deduce the primary function of each drug in the context of alcohol use disorder.
- Disulfiram is uniquely known as an 'antidipsotropic' or 'deterrent' agent, directly linking it to aversion therapy.
- Differentiate this from drugs that manage withdrawal symptoms (like Diazepam and Propranolol), which do not create a long-term aversion.
- Select the option that directly causes an unpleasant effect upon alcohol consumption, which is the definition of pharmacologic aversion therapy.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol Dependence
- Stem keywords: drug, aversion, alcohol dependence
- Lead-in keywords: used to create
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QCW8DYMlJ5s2lG5BqRsxMA
Reference Book
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 2183-2185
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 10933-10935
Practise the full RAK Nursing Officer - 2019
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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