Author Question: A nurse is working with a patient who is taking lithium for bipolar disorder. In addition to ... (Read 78 times)

bclement10 · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A nurse is working with a patient who is taking lithium for bipolar disorder. In addition to performing regular monitoring of lithium levels, what should the nurse tell the patient to educate them about using lithium.

1. Avoid grapefruit juice.
2. Never take the medication with food or milk.
3. Lithium may interfere with your birth control medications.
4. It is important to drink plenty of water and avoid overheating.

Question 2

What drug interactions in the liver are of primary importance? Select all that apply.

1. Excretion
2. Dependence
3. Induction
4. Inhibition
5. Tolerance

paavo · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: 4
Explanation: Lithium can also interfere with sodium and water regulation in the body so it is important that the patient drink plenty of water and avoid overheating. Grapefruit juice does not interact with lithium. Taking lithium with food or milk will reduce possible digestive side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Some of the other medicines used to treat bipolar disorder, including carbamazepine, interact with birth control pills, but here is no known interaction with lithium.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 3, 4
Explanation: Two interactions that occur when one substance competes with another at sites of enzymatic activity are of particular importance: induction and inhibition. The inhibitive competition of one substance interferes with the ability of the enzyme to breakdown the other substance, while induction hastens the speed of enzymatic action. Excretion is a pharmokinetic process that is not necessarily associated with drug interactions. Dependence refers to a developed compulsive need to use a substance to function normally. Tolerance results when the presentation of a medication to a receptor leads to a diminished effect of the drug over time.