A nurse is teaching a client who has active pulmonary tuberculosis about management of medication for the disease.
Which of the following statements is appropriate for the nurse to make?

This is a high level of potassium in the blood (the normal range is 3.5 to 5 mEq/L) and can be dangerous for the heart.

Triamterene is a potassium-sparing diuretic that prevents the body from losing too much potassium in the urine. It can cause hyperkalemia (high potassium), especially in people with kidney disease, diabetes, or severe illness. The nurse should check the potassium level before giving triamterene and hold the medication if it is above 5 mEq/L.

The other choices are incorrect because:

Choice A: Sodium 142 mEq/L.

This is a normal level of sodium in the blood (the normal range is 135 to 145 mEq/L) and does not require withholding triamterene. Triamterene can cause hyponatremia (low sodium) by increasing the excretion of sodium in the urine. The nurse should monitor the sodium level during triamterene therapy and report any signs of low sodium such as confusion, weakness, or seizures.

Choice B: BUN 16 mg/dL.

This is a normal level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the blood (normal range is 7 to 20 mg/dL) and does not require withholding

triamterene. BUN is a measure of kidney function and can be elevated in kidney disease or dehydration. Triamterene can cause an increase in BUN by reducing the blood flow to the kidneys or by interacting with other medications that affect the kidneys. The nurse should monitor the BUN level during triamterene therapy and report any signs of kidney impairment such as decreased urine output, swelling, or nausea. •

Choice D: Albumin 4 g/dL.

This is a normal level of albumin in the blood (the normal range is 3.4 to 5.4 g/dL) and does not require withholding triamterene. Albumin is a protein that helps maintain fluid balance and transport substances in the blood. Triamterene does not affect albumin levels directly, but it can cause fluid loss or retention that may alter albumin levels indirectly. The nurse should monitor the albumin level during triamterene therapy and report any signs of fluid imbalance such as weight changes, edema, or shortness of breath.

Atorvastatin is a medication that belongs to a group of drugs called statins. It is used to lower blood levels of “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), to increase levels of “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL), and to lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood). The treatment has been effective if the LDL level is reduced, as high LDL levels can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. A normal range for LDL is less than 100 mg/dL.

Choice A is wrong because urine specific gravity is a measure of how concentrated the urine is, not how much cholesterol is in the blood. A normal range for urine specific gravity is 1.005 to 1.0304.

Choice B is wrong because BUN (blood urea nitrogen) is a measure of how well the kidneys are working, not how much cholesterol is in the blood. A normal range for BUN is 7 to 20 mg/dL.

Choice D is wrong because blood glucose is a measure of how much sugar is in the blood, not how much cholesterol is in the blood.

A normal range for blood glucose is 70 to 100 mg/dL.