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?

Ginseng is a herbal supplement that may have some antidiabetic effects, such as improving glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. However, ginseng may also interact with certain diabetes medications, especially insulin and sulfonylureas, and cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)2. Therefore, the nurse should inform the client about this potential risk and advise them to consult their doctor before taking ginseng.

Choice B is wrong because there is a reason ginseng cannot be taken by people with diabetes without medical supervision.

As explained above, ginseng may lower blood glucose levels too much and cause hypoglycemia.

Choice C is wrong because there is some research to indicate what effect ginseng will have on diabetes.

Several studies have shown that ginseng may have beneficial effects on blood glucose control, but also some adverse effects such as hypoglycemia.

Choice D is wrong because ginseng does not increase the risk for high blood

Famotidine is a histamine type 2 receptor antagonist (H blocker) which is commonly used for treatment of acid-peptic disease and heartburn. Famotidine has been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury, but it is less likely to cause hepatotoxicity than cimetidine, another H blocker. Famotidine also has fewer drug interactions than cimetidine.

Choice A is wrong because nizatidine is another H blocker that can cause mild and transient serum aminotransferase elevations.

Nizatidine has not been linked to cases of clinically apparent liver injury, but it has not been widely used.

Choice B is wrong because ranitidine is another H blocker that can cause mild and transient serum aminotransferase elevations.

Ranitidine has also been associated with rare instances of clinically apparent liver injury, some of which were fatal or required liver transplantation.

Choice C is wrong because cimetidine is another H blocker that can cause mild and transient serum aminotransferase elevations.

Cimetidine has also been implicated in several cases of clinically apparent acute liver injury, some of which were severe and led to acute liver failure and death.

Cimetidine also has many drug interactions due to its inhibition of cytochrome P enzymes.

Normal ranges for serum aminotransferases are 7 to 56 U/L for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and 10 to 40 U/L for as