Nokea
A patient who has recently started therapy on a statin drug asks the nurse how long it will take until he sees an effect on his serum cholesterol. Which statement would be the nurse's best response?
- A. Blood levels return to normal within a week of beginning therapy.
- B. It takes 6 to 8 weeks to see a change in cholesterol levels.
- C. It takes at least 6 months to see a change in cholesterol levels.
- D. You will need to take this medication for almost a year to see significant results.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Statins typically require 6 to 8 weeks to achieve maximum lipid-lowering effects. One week is too short, and 6 months or a year is unnecessarily long for initial effects.
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Antilipemic drug therapy is prescribed for a patient, and the nurse is providing instructions to the patient about the medication. Which instructions will the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Limit fluid intake to prevent fluid overload.
- B. Eat extra servings of raw vegetables and fruit.
- C. Report abnormal or unusual bleeding or yellow discoloration of the skin.
- D. Report the occurrence of muscle pain immediately.
- E. Drug interactions are rare with antilipemics.
- F. Take the drug 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals to maximize absorption.
Correct Answer: B,C,D
Rationale: Instructions include eating raw vegetables and fruit to prevent constipation, reporting bleeding or jaundice (indicating liver issues), and reporting muscle pain (potential myopathy). Antilipemics have frequent drug interactions, and fluid intake should be encouraged, not limited. Taking with food may reduce GI distress, not before/after meals.
The nurse will monitor for myopathy (muscle pain) when a patient is taking which class of antilipemic drugs?
- A. Niacin
- B. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
- C. Fibric acid derivatives
- D. Bile acid sequestrants
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) can cause myopathy, including muscle pain, which may progress to rhabdomyolysis. Patients should report unexplained muscle pain immediately. Other classes do not commonly cause myopathy.
The nurse is conducting a class about antilipemic drugs. The antilipemic drug ezetimibe works by which mechanism?
- A. Inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase
- B. Preventing resorption of bile acids from the small intestines
- C. Activating lipins, which breaks down cholesterol
- D. Inhibiting cholesterol absorption in the small intestine
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Ezetimibe selectively inhibits cholesterol absorption in the small intestine, reducing circulating cholesterol levels. It does not inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, prevent bile acid resorption, or activate lipins.
A patient tells the nurse that he likes to eat large amounts of garlic 'to help lower his cholesterol levels naturally.' The nurse reviews his medication history and notes that which drug has a potential interaction with the garlic?
- A. Acetaminophen
- B. Warfarin
- C. Digoxin
- D. Phenytoin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Garlic can enhance the anticoagulant effects of warfarin, increasing bleeding risk due to its antiplatelet properties. Acetaminophen, digoxin, and phenytoin do not have significant interactions with garlic.
A patient reports having adverse effects with niacin. The prescriber has recommended which action to minimize these undesirable effects?
- A. Take the drug on an empty stomach.
- B. Take the medication every other day until the effects subside.
- C. Take an aspirin tablet 30 minutes before taking the drug.
- D. Take the drug with large amounts of fiber.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Taking aspirin 30 minutes before niacin can reduce cutaneous flushing by counteracting prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation. Taking niacin with meals, not on an empty stomach, and maintaining consistent dosing, not skipping days, are recommended. Fiber does not reduce niacin's adverse effects.