When providing medication te”ching to a client who has been prescribed spironolactone for hypertension, what foods should the nurse instruct the client to avoid?

A) Milk:
Milk is not known to interact significantly with verapamil. Therefore, there's no need for the client to avoid consuming milk while taking this medication.

B) Orange juice:
Orange juice does not typically interact with verapamil. However, calcium-containing foods and beverages, including orange juice, may reduce the absorption of verapamil when taken simultaneously. While the interaction is not severe, it's advisable for clients to separate the administration of verapamil from calcium-rich foods and beverages to optimize absorption.

C) Grapefruit juice:
This is the correct answer. Grapefruit juice contains compounds that inhibit the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, particularly CYP3A4, which are involved in the metabolism of many medications, including verapamil. Consuming grapefruit juice while taking verapamil can lead to elevated blood levels of the medication, increasing the risk of side effects and toxicity. Therefore, clients should avoid grapefruit juice while on verapamil therapy.

D) Coffee:
Coffee does not typically interact with verapamil. However, caffeine-containing beverages like coffee may exacerbate certain side effects of verapamil, such as dizziness or palpitations, due to their stimulant effects. Clients may be advised to limit caffeine intake or consume coffee in moderation while taking verapamil.

A) By blocking the effects of histamine in the body:
Antihistamines are pharmacological agents that work by antagonizing the effects of histamine, a chemical mediator released by mast cells and basophils in response to allergens or other triggers. Histamine contributes to various allergic symptoms such as itching, sneezing, nasal congestion, and watery eyes. Antihistamines exert their effects by competitively binding to histamine receptors (specifically H1 receptors) on target cells, thereby preventing histamine from binding and exerting its physiological effects. By blocking histamine receptors, antihistamines inhibit the action of histamine, leading to the alleviation of allergy symptoms.

B) By reducing inflammation in the body:
While some medications, such as corticosteroids, exert anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the immune response and inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators, antihistamines primarily target histamine receptors and do not directly reduce inflammation. Although histamine release can contribute to inflammation, antihistamines mitigate allergic symptoms primarily by blocking the action of histamine rather than by directly reducing inflammation.

C) By increasing the production of histamine in the body:
This statement is inaccurate. Antihistamines do not increase the production of histamine; instead, they counteract the effects of histamine by blocking its activity at receptor sites. The primary mechanism of action of antihistamines involves blocking histamine receptors to prevent histamine from exerting its physiological effects.

D) By stimulating the immune system:
Antihistamines do not stimulate the immune system. Instead, they act as antagonists to histamine receptors, thereby inhibiting histamine-induced responses. While histamine is involved in immune responses and allergic reactions, antihistamines do not directly modulate immune function or stimulate immune activity. Their primary role is to alleviate allergy symptoms by blocking the effects of histamine."