Nokea
During a routine checkup, a patient states that she is unable to take the prescribed antihistamine because of one of its most common adverse effects. The nurse suspects that which adverse effect has been bothering this patient?
- A. Constipation
- B. Abdominal cramps
- C. Drowsiness
- D. Decreased libido
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Drowsiness is usually the main side effect that bothers people who take antihistamines.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patient is taking guaifenesin as part of treatment for a sinus infection. Which instruction will the nurse include during patient teaching?
- A. Increase fluid intake to help loosen and liquefy secretions.
- B. Report clear-colored sputum to the prescriber.
- C. Avoid driving a car or operating heavy machinery because of the sedating effects.
- D. Report symptoms that last longer than 2 days.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Increasing fluid intake helps to loosen and liquefy secretions. The patient must be fully aware that any fever, chest tightness, change in sputum from clear to colored, difficult or noisy breathing, activity intolerance, or weakness needs to be reported. The patient must also report to the prescriber a fever of higher than 100.4?°F (38?°C) or symptoms that last longer than 3 to 4 days. Decongestants do not cause sedation, and therefore the patient does not need to avoid driving a car or operating heavy machinery.
A patient will be receiving diphenhydramine via a PEG tube, 25 mg, every 8 hours for an allergic rash. The medication is available as a 12.5 mg/5 mL syrup. Identify how many milliliters will the nurse administer with each dose.
Correct Answer: 10 mL
Rationale: 12.5 mg : 5 mL :: 25 mg : x mL; (12.5 * x) = (5 * 25); 12.5x = 125; x = 125/12.5 = 10 mL.
The nurse will instruct patients about a possible systemic effect that may occur if excessive amounts of topically applied adrenergic nasal decongestants are used. Which systemic effect may occur?
- A. Heartburn
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Drowsiness
- D. Palpitations
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Although a topically applied adrenergic nasal decongestant can be absorbed into the bloodstream, the amount absorbed is usually too small to cause systemic effects at normal dosages. Excessive dosages of these medications, however, are more likely to cause systemic effects elsewhere in the body. These may include cardiovascular effects, such as hypertension and palpitations, and central nervous system effects, such as headache, nervousness, and dizziness. The other options are incorrect.
When giving dextromethorphan, the nurse understands that this drug suppresses the cough reflex by which mechanism of action?
- A. Causing depression of the central nervous system
- B. Anesthetizing the stretch receptors
- C. Having direct action on the cough center
- D. Decreasing the viscosity of the bronchial secretions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dextromethorphan suppresses the cough reflex through a direct action on the cough center. The other options are incorrect.
A patient tells the nurse that she wants to start taking the herbal product goldenseal to improve her health. The nurse will assess for which potential cautions or contraindications to goldenseal?
- A. Taking a proton-pump inhibitor
- B. Nasal congestion
- C. Hypothyroidism
- D. Taking an antihypertensive drug
- E. Sinus infections
- F. Pregnancy
Correct Answer: A,D,F
Rationale: Goldenseal is contraindicated in patients with acute or chronic gastrointestinal disorders and during pregnancy (because it has uterine stimulant properties). It should be used with caution by those with cardiovascular disorders. Potential drug interactions may occur with gastric acid suppressors such as antacids, histamine H2 blockers (e.g., ranitidine), and proton-pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole), theoretically because of their reduced effectiveness resulting from the acid-promoting effect of the herb, and with antihypertensive drugs (because of the vasoconstrictive activity of the herb). Goldenseal is potentially useful for sinus infections and chronic nasal allergies.