A patient with myxedema complains to the nurse that he has a ...

[xroflmao]

A patient with myxedema complains to the nurse that he has a hangover the next morning after taking a pain medication at night. Which explanation by the nurse is the most accurate?
 
  a. You have increased sensitivity to the medicine because of your thyroid condition.
  b. Because you haven't been sleeping, you have increased fatigue and should increase the analgesic.
  c. You are not taking enough thyroid medication and you should increase the dosage.
  d. The pain medication is incompatible with your thyroid medication and you should find another analgesic to take.

Question 2

What is the mechanism of action of propylthiouracil?
 
  a. Blocks reuptake of thyroid hormone in the liver
  b. Destroys hormone in the thyroid gland
  c. Increases synthesis of hormone in the thyroid gland
  d. Blocks synthesis of hormone in the thyroid gland

[tofugiraffe]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Myxedema patients are sensitive to small doses of sedative hypnotics, anesthetics, and narcotics. Increasing the analgesic would only make the patient feel more lethargic in the morning. The patient should not change the dose of his thyroid medication without consulting his primary health care provider. Any pain medication is likely to have this effect because of the patient's thyroid condition.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Propylthiouracil and methimazole are antithyroid agents that act by blocking the synthesis of T3 and T4 in the thyroid gland. They do not destroy any T3 or T4 already produced, so there is usually a latent period of a few days to 3 weeks before symptoms improve once therapy is started. Antithyroid medications do not block reuptake of hormones, destroy hormones, or increase synthesis of hormone.