A patient, who has intermittent claudication, has been taking 400 ...

[rayancarla1]

A patient, who has intermittent claudication, has been taking 400 mg of pentoxifylline (Trental) three times daily with meals for 2 weeks.
 
  The patient calls the clinic and reports mild flushing, occasional gastrointestinal upset, and continued pain in both legs. How will the nurse advise the patient?
  a. Expect side effects to diminish as drug effects increase in several weeks.
  b. Notify the provider of the continued pain and request increasing the dose.
  c. Take a daily aspirin tablet to enhance the effects of pentoxifylline.
  d. Take the medication 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Question 2

A female patient has serum lipid levels performed, which reveal a total cholesterol of 285 mg/dL, triglycerides of 188 mg/dL, a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of 175 mg/dL, and a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of 40 mg/dL.
 
  The patient's blood pressure is 138/72 mm Hg. The nurse may expect the provider to order which medication for this patient?
  a. Amlodipine and atorvastatin (Caduet)
  b. Colestipol HCl (Colestid)
  c. Fenofibrate (TriCor)
  d. Niacin and lovastatin (Advicor)

[ansleighelindsey]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Patients should be counseled that the desired therapeutic effects may take to 3 months. This patient's side effects are mild and therefore do not warrant discontinuing the drug. This patient is receiving the maximum recommended dose. Aspirin is not indicated. Taking the medication with meals and not on an empty stomach minimizes gastrointestinal effects.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
The combination drug of niacin and lovastatin is indicated for hypercholesterolemi a and mixed dyslipidemia. Niacin raises HDL, so would be helpful in this patient who has low HDL. Combination drugs are used to enhance the antihyperlipidemic effect. Amlodipine and atorvastatin in combination are used for patients with hyperlipidemia and elevated blood pressure. Colestipol HCl is used to reduce cholesterol and LDL levels but has no effect on HDL or triglycerides. Fenofibrate is used to treat type IV and V hyperlipidemia, characterized by elevated very-low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides.

[rayancarla1]

Thank you!

[ansleighelindsey]

Always glad to help...