Author Question: The nurse is providing education to a patient who has been prescribed both an antacid and ranitidine ... (Read 74 times)

mpobi80 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse is providing education to a patient who has been prescribed both an antacid and ranitidine (Zantac). Which instruction should the nurse give the patient about taking the medications?

a. Take the antacid 1 hour after the ranitidine.
b. The antacid and ranitidine should be taken at the same time for better effect.
c. Take the antacid 15 minutes before the ranitidine.
d. Take the antacid 30 minutes after the ranitidine.

Question 2

A patient newly diagnosed with PUD reports taking low-dose aspirin (ASA) for prevention of cardiovascular disease. The nurse learns that the patient drinks 2 to 3 cups of coffee each day and has a glass of wine with dinner 3 or 4 nights per week.

The patient eats three meals a day. The nurse will counsel this patient to:
a. change the meal pattern to five or six smaller meals per day.
b. discontinue taking aspirin, because it can irritate the stomach.
c. stop drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage.
d. switch to a decaffeinated coffee and reduce the number of servings.

dantucker · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Because antacids raise the gastric pH, they can affect the dissolution and absorption of ranitidine; therefore, 1 hour should separate administration of antacids and ranitidine. Antacids and ranitidine should not be taken at the same time, because dissolution and absorption of ranitidine will be reduced. One hour should separate administration of antacids and ranitidine; intervals of 15 minutes and 30 minutes are not long enough.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Consumption of five or six smaller meals a day can reduce fluctuations in the intragastric pH, which may facilitate recovery. ASA should be avoided, along with other NSAIDs except for low-dose ASA used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. No hard data implicate alcohol as a contributor to PUD. No data indicate that caffeine contributes to PUD.