1. There are several neurotransmitters that are involved in alcohol pharmacodynamics. Please list the way in which the transmission of the2 major neurotransmitters are modulated (gaba and glutamate).
2. Blood alcohol level (BAL) is the amount of alcohol present in 100 mL (1dL) of blood. Here is an example:
BAL of 0.09=0.09 g/dL =90 mg/dL = 0.09% BAC (blood alcohol content)
If a patient walks into your office with a 0.215% BAC, what can you assume about this person's tolerance?
3. Pertaining to #2, as the clinician, what might you assume about immediate risks as the patient experiences withdrawalfrom alcohol?
4. alcohol is metabolized by zero-order kinetics. What does this mean and how is it different from first-order kinetics?
5. Once alcohol is ingested, can anything increase/"speed up" the rate of that person's baseline alcohol metabolic rate?
6. There are 2 main stages of alcohol metabolism in the body (see page 41 of Levounis). What are the 2 main enzymes that metabolize alcohol?
7. How does the medication disulfiram (Antabuse) work to stop alcohol metabolism?
8. What is the difference between a symptom-triggered/driven taper regimen for alcohol withdrawal versus a standing order/fixed-dose regimen?
9. If a person presents with a 0.215mg BALand scores 18 on the CIWA assessment, would you consider giving a dose of a benzodiazepine? Why or why not?
10. Name one thing that you believe will advance your clinical practice as an APN.