Which medication should a nurse anticipate being prescribed for paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea?

Which medication should a nurse anticipate being prescribed for paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea?

• A. Amiodarone
• B. Propranolol
• C. Bumetanide
• D. Streptokinase

Answer: (C)

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a condition often associated with heart failure, characterized by sudden shortness of breath that occurs at night when a person is lying down. This symptom arises due to fluid accumulation in the lungs, which can occur when the heart is unable to effectively pump blood, leading to increased venous pressure and pulmonary congestion. Bumetanide, a loop diuretic, is commonly prescribed to help manage fluid overload in patients experiencing heart failure. It works by promoting the excretion of water and sodium from the kidneys, which decreases blood volume and reduces the pressure in the veins. By alleviating the excess fluid in the circulation, Bumetanide can provide relief from the symptoms of pulmonary congestion and, specifically, shrinks the volume overload that contributes to paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. In contrast, the other medications listed do not directly address the fluid overload associated with heart failure. Amiodarone is primarily used for managing arrhythmias, Propranolol is a beta-blocker that can be used for various cardiac conditions but does not specifically target fluid retention or dyspnea, and Streptokinase is a thrombolytic agent used to dissolve blood clots, which is not relevant in

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a condition often associated with heart failure, characterized by sudden shortness of breath that occurs at night when a person is lying down. This symptom arises due to fluid accumulation in the lungs, which can occur when the heart is unable to effectively pump blood, leading to increased venous pressure and pulmonary congestion.

Bumetanide, a loop diuretic, is commonly prescribed to help manage fluid overload in patients experiencing heart failure. It works by promoting the excretion of water and sodium from the kidneys, which decreases blood volume and reduces the pressure in the veins. By alleviating the excess fluid in the circulation, Bumetanide can provide relief from the symptoms of pulmonary congestion and, specifically, shrinks the volume overload that contributes to paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.

In contrast, the other medications listed do not directly address the fluid overload associated with heart failure. Amiodarone is primarily used for managing arrhythmias, Propranolol is a beta-blocker that can be used for various cardiac conditions but does not specifically target fluid retention or dyspnea, and Streptokinase is a thrombolytic agent used to dissolve blood clots, which is not relevant in