NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

When is the use of benzodiazepines recommended in CINV management?

1. During acute CINV

2. For delayed CINV

3. For anticipatory CINV

4. As part of high emetic risk regimen

The correct answer is: For anticipatory CINV

In the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), benzodiazepines are typically recommended for anticipatory CINV. Anticipatory CINV refers to the conditioned response that some patients develop in anticipation of receiving chemotherapy, leading to nausea and vomiting even before the treatment begins. Benzodiazepines are often used in this scenario to help reduce anxiety and provide relaxation, which can in turn help alleviate the anticipatory symptoms of CINV. The other options are not the primary recommendations for benzodiazepine use in CINV management: - During acute CINV, antiemetic medications like 5-HT3 receptor antagonists or NK1 receptor antagonists are usually more appropriate. - For delayed CINV, maintaining a long-acting antiemetic regimen is key, which may include corticosteroids, NK1 receptor antagonists, or other antiemetic agents. - In cases of high emetic risk regimens, the focus is on using multiple antiemetic agents with different mechanisms of action to effectively prevent nausea and vomiting. Benzodiazepines are not typically the primary choice in this situation.