A patient is being treated with zalcitabine (Hivid). The patient ...

[crazycityslicker]

A patient is being treated with zalcitabine (Hivid). The patient reports sharp, shooting pain and severe, continuous burning in the extremities. What action should the nurse take?
 
  a. Hold the next dose, administer an opioid analgesic, and call the prescriber.
  b. Explain to the patient that this effect is transient.
  c. Explain to the patient that the effect will lessen with subsequent doses.
  d. Provide the dose and then call the prescriber.

Question 2

A patient taking stavudine (Zerit) telephones the clinic and reports numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. The nurse should advise the patient
 
  a. that the numbness is an expected side effect of the medication and will lessen.
  b. to discontinue the medication and come into the clinic for further evaluation.
  c. that the dose may be too high and to cut the tablet in half.
  d. to take the medication on a full stomach to reduce absorption of the drug.

[olivia_paige29]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
The nurse should hold the next dose, administer an opioid for pain, and notify the prescriber, because the patient is showing signs of significant neuropathy.
The effects are not transient; they may be irreversible, and they will not lessen with subsequent doses.
The dose should be held, not given.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The patient has signs and symptoms of neuropathy. The patient should be advised to discontinue the medication and come in for further evaluation. The patient should be taught early in treatment to report these symptoms immediately.
Numbness is not an expected side effect and the patient should report these symptoms immediately.
The patient should never be advised to cut the dose in half unless instructed to do so by a prescriber.
Taking the medication on a full stomach will not affect the amount of medication absorbed.