A female client with mild depression reports to the nurse that she recently started taking St. John’s wort. Which information provided by the client requires further instruction?

Choice A reason:

Insomnia is a known side effect of St. John’s wort. While it can be bothersome, it does not typically require further instruction beyond standard advice on managing insomnia. Patients should be advised to take the medication earlier in the day to minimize sleep disturbances.

Choice B reason:

St. John’s wort can interact with hormonal contraceptives, reducing their effectiveness and increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy. This interaction occurs because St. John’s wort induces the enzymes that metabolize contraceptive hormones, leading to lower levels of these hormones in the body. Therefore, it is crucial to instruct the client to use an additional form of contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Choice C reason:

Sensitivity to the sun, or photosensitivity, is a documented side effect of St. John’s wort. Patients should be advised to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposed to sunlight. While this side effect requires caution, it does not necessitate further instruction beyond these preventive measures.

Choice D reason:

Using hard candy to alleviate dry mouth is a common and effective strategy. St. John’s wort can cause dry mouth, and sucking on sugar-free hard candy can help stimulate saliva production. This advice is appropriate and does not require further instruction.

Choice A reason: Potassium levels are not directly affected by calcium acetate. Calcium acetate is primarily used to manage hyperphosphatemia in patients with CKD by binding to dietary phosphate and preventing its absorption1. Therefore, a decrease in potassium levels would not indicate the effectiveness of calcium acetate.

Choice B reason: Calcium acetate can actually increase calcium levels in the blood, especially if taken in high doses or if the patient has other sources of calcium intake. Monitoring calcium levels is important to avoid hypercalcemia, but a decrease in calcium levels is not the desired effect of this medication.

Choice C reason: Calcium acetate is used to reduce serum phosphate levels in patients with CKD. It works by binding to dietary phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract, forming insoluble calcium phosphate, which is then excreted in the stool. A decrease in serum phosphate levels indicates that the medication is effectively reducing phosphate absorption and managing hyperphosphatemia.

Choice D reason: The pH level of the blood is not directly influenced by calcium acetate. While maintaining acid-base balance is important in CKD management, the primary goal of calcium acetate therapy is to control phosphate level. Therefore, changes in blood pH are not a measure of the medication’s effectiveness.