Which term refers to medication used to sedate a patient?

• A. Pharmacologic Sedation
• B. Physical Restraint
• C. Chemical Restraint
• D. Behavioral Intervention

Answer: (C)

Chemical restraint is the term used when medication is given primarily to restrain a patient by sedating or calming them to prevent harm or ensure safety. It specifies the use of pharmacologic agents for restraint, rather than for therapeutic purposes alone. Pharmacologic sedation describes the broader idea of drugs that cause sedation, which can be for comfort, anxiety relief, or procedural needs, but it doesn’t inherently imply restraint. Physical restraint relies on devices or manual holds to limit movement, not drugs. Behavioral interventions are non-drug strategies to de-escalate or manage agitation. So the right term for using meds to sedate a patient to restrain them is chemical restraint.