A client has been diagnosed with an ulcer and will begin taking sucralfate. What information should the nurse include when providing education to the client?

Here's the process for calculating the drug concentration after multiple half-lives:

First half-life: After 1 half-life, 50% of the original dose remains in the body.

200 mg x 0.50 = 100 mg remains after 1 half-life.

Second half-life: After 2 half-lives, 50% of the remaining drug will be eliminated.

100 mg x 0.50 = 50 mg remains after 2 half-lives.

Third half-life: After 3 half-lives, 50% of the remaining drug will be eliminated again.

50 mg x 0.50 = 25 mg remains after 3 half-lives.

Fourth half-life: After 4 half-lives, 50% of the remaining drug will be eliminated once more.

25 mg x 0.50 = 12.5 mg remains after 4 half-lives.

Now, we need to sum up the amount of drug remaining in the body at each half-life:

After 4 half-lives, there are 12.5 mg left from the original dose.

Total drug in the body after 4 half-lives = 200 mg - 12.5 mg = 375 mg.

A) "I will wash the inhaler once a week with running warm water.": This statement is accurate. It is important to wash the inhaler, especially the mouthpiece, at least once a week to prevent the build-up of medication residue and ensure proper function. The recommendation of using warm water is appropriate, and washing weekly is commonly advised by healthcare providers.

B) "I will administer the second puff 1 minute following the first puff.": This is correct. When using a metered-dose inhaler, it is recommended to wait about 1 minute between puffs to allow the medication to be inhaled properly and for the first dose to be fully delivered before administering the second dose. This ensures that each dose is effective.

C) "I will rinse my mouth with water or mouthwash after inhaler use.": This is a correct statement, particularly for inhaled corticosteroids. Rinsing the mouth after using an inhaler helps prevent the development of oral thrush and other side effects such as irritation or infection. It’s also a good habit to remove any leftover medication from the mouth.

D) "I will take slow deep breaths while activating the inhaler.": This statement indicates the need for additional education. The correct technique involves inhaling slowly and deeply after activating the inhaler, not while activating it. If the client exhales forcefully while pressing the inhaler, they may not be able to inhale the medication effectively. It is crucial that the client activates the inhaler and then takes a slow, deep breath to ensure the medication is delivered properly into the lungs.