What should the nurse inform a client about the risk of addiction with clorazepate?

Clorazepate is a benzodiazepine medication commonly used for anxiety, seizure disorders, and alcohol withdrawal. One of the significant concerns with benzodiazepines, including clorazepate, is the potential for the development of physical and psychological dependence when used for an extended period, especially at high doses.

When taken over a long duration or in high amounts, clorazepate can lead to tolerance, where the client may need increasingly higher doses to achieve the same therapeutic effects. This tolerance can subsequently lead to withdrawal symptoms if the medication is reduced or discontinued abruptly. This risk of developing dependence is an essential aspect of managing treatment with clorazepate and requires careful monitoring by healthcare providers.

In contrast, other options suggest misinformation about the safety, lack of side effects, or limited duration of use without acknowledging the dependence risks, which is not representative of how benzodiazepines function in the body and their associated risks. Therefore, the correct information recognizes the dependence potential related to prolonged high-dose therapy, which is crucial for patient safety and effective management of their treatment regimen.