A patient on chemotherapy is using ondansetron for treatment of nausea. The nurse will instruct the patient to watch for which adverse effect of this drug?
- A. Dizziness
- B. Diarrhea
- C. Dry mouth
- D. Blurred vision
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diarrhea is an adverse effect of the serotonin blockers. The other adverse effects listed may occur with anticholinergic drugs.
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A patient is receiving a tube feeding through a gastrostomy. The nurse expects that which type of drug will be used to promote gastric emptying for this patient?
- A. Prokinetic drugs, such as metoclopramide
- B. Serotonin blockers, such as ondansetron
- C. Anticholinergic drugs, such as scopolamine
- D. Neuroleptic drugs, such as chlorpromazine
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prokinetic drugs promote the movement of substances through the gastrointestinal tract and increase gastrointestinal motility.
A patient with motion sickness is planning a cross-country car trip and has a new prescription for a scopolamine transdermal patch. The nurse provides teaching for the use of this patch medication. The patient shows a correct understanding of the teaching with which statement?
- A. I will change the patch every day.
- B. I will change the patch every other day.
- C. I will change the patch every 3 days.
- D. I will remove the patch only if it stops working.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Scopolamine patches are 72-hour doses and therefore are changed every 3 days.
A woman who is in the first trimester of pregnancy has been experiencing severe morning sickness. She asks, 'I've heard that ginger tablets may be a natural way to ease the nausea and vomiting. Is it okay to try them?' What is the nurse's best response?
- A. They are a safe and natural remedy for nausea when you are pregnant.
- B. Go ahead and try them, but stop taking them once the nausea is relieved.
- C. Some health care providers do not recommend ginger during pregnancy. Let's check with your provider.
- D. You will need to wait until after the first trimester to try them.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: There is some anecdotal evidence that ginger may have abortifacient properties, and for this reason some providers do not recommend its use during pregnancy.
A patient who has AIDS has lost weight and is easily fatigued because of his malnourished state. The nurse anticipates an order for which antinausea drug to stimulate his appetite?
- A. Metoclopramide, a prokinetic drug
- B. Dronabinol, a tetrahydrocannabinoid
- C. Ondansetron, a serotonin blocker
- D. Aprepitant, a substance P/NK1 receptor antagonist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dronabinol is used for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, generally as a second-line drug after treatment with other antiemetics has failed. It is also used to stimulate appetite and weight gain in patients with AIDS and in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
A patient who has severe nausea and vomiting following a case of food poisoning comes to the urgent care center. When reviewing his medication history, the nurse notes that he has an allergy to procaine. The nurse would question an order for which antiemetic drug if ordered for this patient?
- A. Metoclopramide
- B. Promethazine
- C. Phosphorated carbohydrate solution
- D. Palonosetron
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The use of metoclopramide is contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to procaine or procainamide.
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