Author Question: For which patient must the drug donepezil (Aricept) for Alzheimer's disease be avoided? a. ... (Read 111 times)

P68T · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

For which patient must the drug donepezil (Aricept) for Alzheimer's disease be avoided?

a. 54-year-old woman with early onset Alzheimer's disease
b. 67-year-old man who also takes drugs for type 2 diabetes
c. 72-year-old woman who is 20 lb underweight
d. 72-year old man who is unable to sit or stand

Question 2

What is the most important precaution for the nurse to teach a patient who is prescribed transdermal rivastigmine (Exelon)?

a. Always remove old patches daily and apply the new patch to a different site.
b. Report any difficulty starting the urinary stream to your prescriber immediately.
c. Place the patch on the neck or forehead so that the drug reaches the brain more quickly.
d. For best drug absorption, hold a warm wet washcloth over the patch for 5 minutes after applying it.

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

Answer to Question 1

C
Donepezil suppresses appetite and causes weight loss. In a person who is underweight, the usual dosage can lead to toxicity. In addition, some Alzheimer's patients forget to eat and are already underweight. Weighing less than an ideal body weight increases the risk for many complications of old age and poor health.

Answer to Question 2

A
As for any drug delivered by transdermal patch, the old patch should be removed before applying the new one to prevent a drug overdose. The patches can irritate the skin and should not be replaced in the same position as the previous patch. Rotating sites prevents skin irritation and breakdown. Applying the patch closer to the brain does not increase brain absorption of the drug.