A patient with Parkinson's disease who has been prescribed ...

[penguins]

A patient with Parkinson's disease who has been prescribed entacapone (Comtan) tells the nurse about muscle aches, weakness, and having dark cola-colored urine. What is the nurse's best ac-tion?
 
  a. Send a urine specimen to the laboratory for urinalysis.
  b. Help the patient back to bed and instruct him or her to rest.
  c. Tell the patient that these are expected side effects of the drug.
  d. Hold the drug and notify the prescriber immediately.

Question 2

Which statement is true about how drugs for Parkinson's disease work?
 
  a. Dopaminergic drugs decrease the amount of dopamine activity in the brain.
  b. COMT inhibitors allow a larger amount of levodopa to reach the brain, which lowers the brain's dopamine levels.
  c. MAO-B inhibitors facilitate the enzyme monoamine oxidase B that breaks down dopamine in the brain.
  d. Anticholinergic drugs block cholinergic nerve impulses to minimize tremors and rigidity.

[tjayeee]

Answer to Question 1

D
Entacapone is a COMT inhibitor. These drugs can cause the adverse effect of rhabdomyolysis, a serious and potentially fatal effect involving destruction or degeneration of skeletal muscle. Signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include muscle aches, muscle weakness, and dark cola-colored urine. The nurse must hold the drug and notify the prescriber immediately.

Answer to Question 2

D
Dopaminergic drugs increase the amount of dopamine activity in the brain. COMT (cate-chol-o-methyltransferase) inhibitors allow a larger amount of levodopa to reach the brain, which increases the brain's dopamine levels. MAO-B inhibitors inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase B that breaks down dopamine in the brain. Anticholinergic drugs are effective against tremors and rigidity by blocking cholinergic nerve impulses that help control the muscles of the arms, legs, and body.

[penguins]

Both answers were spot on, thank you once again

[tjayeee]

Great! Please up vote