A patient who has been taking niacin (Niacor) daily for 1 week ...

[viki]

A patient who has been taking niacin (Niacor) daily for 1 week reports intense itching. What is the nurse's best response?
 
  a. This is a common side effect and many people can control it by taking aspirin.
  b. Stop taking the drug and talk with your prescriber as soon as possible.
  c. Unless your skin forms blisters or peels, continue to take the drug.
  d. Do you have any other drug allergies?

Question 2

A patient is taking modafinil (Provigil) for narcolepsy. Which precaution is most important for the nurse to teach the patient?
 
  a. Take this drug 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
  b. Report episodes of sleepwalking to your prescriber.
  c. Check your pulse for rate and regularity twice daily.
  d. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice.

[coreycathey]

Answer to Question 1

A
Niacin causes a mild systemic inflammatory response with vasodilation that can result in the sensation of itching. This is not an allergy but can be very distressing to the patient. Often, taking aspirin reduces the inflammatory response and eliminates the itchiness. If the patient has no other health problems that would be worsened by aspirin, this should be tried first.

Answer to Question 2

D
The substances in grapefruit and grapefruit juice decrease the activity of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of modafinil. As a result, the drug blood level stays high longer, increasing the risk for side effects and adverse effects.

[viki]

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[Alyson.hiatt@yahoo.com]

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