A nurse is providing client education to a client who has had corticosteroids prescribed.
What drug should the nurse teach the client to avoid while taking the corticosteroids?
Dimenhydrinate.
Aspirin.
Ibuprofen.
Famotidine.
The Correct Answer is B
The client should avoid taking aspirin while taking corticosteroids because of the potential drug-drug interaction between them. This interaction may cause a reduction in the blood levels of aspirin and decrease its effectiveness. It may also increase the risk of gastrointestinal side effects such as inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation.
Choice A is wrong because dimenhydrinate is an antihistamine that is used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
It does not have a significant interaction with corticosteroids.
Choice C is wrong because ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to relieve pain, inflammation, and fever.
It has a similar interaction with corticosteroids as aspirin, but it is less potent and less likely to cause bleeding.
Choice D is wrong because famotidine is a histamine-2 receptor antagonist that is used to treat and prevent ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and other conditions that cause excess stomach acid.
It does not have a significant interaction with corticosteroids.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Prednisone is a glucocorticoid that suppresses the production of natural cortisol by the adrenal glands. Taking prednisone on alternate days allows the adrenal glands to recover and produce some cortisol on the days without prednisone.
Choice B is wrong because prednisone does not eliminate adverse side effects, but may cause some such as weight gain, fluid retention, increased blood pressure, increased blood glucose, and increased risk of infection.
Choice C is wrong because there is no evidence of steroid tolerance, which means that higher doses are needed to achieve the same effect.
Choice D is wrong because prednisone does not prolong therapeutic effects, but may decrease them over time due to feedback inhibition of cortisol secretion.
Normal ranges for cortisol are 6 to 23 mcg/dL in the morning and 2 to 11 mcg/dL in the afternoon.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Propylthiouracil (PTU) is an antithyroid drug that blocks the synthesis of thyroid hormones by interfering with the oxidation of iodine and the coupling of iodotyrosines.
This reduces the levels of triiodothyronine (T) and thyroxine (T) in the blood and relieves the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Choice A is wrong because PTU does not destroy any part of the thyroid gland.
It only inhibits the production of thyroid hormones within the gland.
Choice B is wrong because PTU does not suppress the anterior pituitary gland’s secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
TSH is a hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones.
PTU does not affect the feedback loop between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid glands.
Choice D is wrong because PTU does not suppress the hypothalamus’s production of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH).
TRH is a hormone that stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete TSH.
PTU does not affect the feedback loop between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid glands.
Normal ranges for T are 80 to 220 ng/dL, for T are 4.5 to 11.2 mcg/dL, and for TSH are 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L.
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