Author Question: The patient has been prescribed dextromethorphan (Delsym) What medication information should the ... (Read 29 times)

tth · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The patient has been prescribed dextromethorphan (Delsym) What medication information should the nurse provide?

1. Do not smoke while using this drug.
2. Do not drink alcohol while using this drug.
3. This drug takes an hour or so to take effect.
4. Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication.
5. If you notice your speech is slurred, stop taking the medicine and call the clinic.

Question 2

What is not a barrier to distribution of medications?

1. Blood-brain barrier
2. Blood-testicular barrier
3. Blood-placental barrier
4. Blood-lung barrier

JCABRERA33 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

1,2,4,5
Rationale 1: Pulmonary irritants such as smoking should be avoided as drug effectiveness may be decreased.
Rationale 2: Sedation may occur if this drug is used concurrently with alcohol.
Rationale 3: The drug works in about 15 to 30 minutes.
Rationale 4: Grapefruit juice may raise serum levels of dextromethorphan and cause toxicity.
Rationale 5: Slurring speech may indicate CNS toxicity is occurring.

Global Rationale: Pulmonary irritants such as smoking should be avoided as drug effectiveness may be decreased. Sedation may occur if this drug is used concurrently with alcohol. Grapefruit juice may raise serum levels of dextromethorphan and cause toxicity. Slurring speech may indicate CNS toxicity is occurring. The drug works in about 15 to 30 minutes.

Answer to Question 2

4

Rationale 1: This is a barrier to the distribution of medications.
Rationale 2: This is a barrier to the distribution of medications.
Rationale 3: This is a barrier to the distribution of medications.
Rationale 4: There is no blood-lung barrier.

Global Rationale: Three important organs contain anatomic barriers that prevent some drugs from gaining access. These are the brain, the placenta, and the testes. The cellular barriers only allow fat-soluble substances to cross. These are the blood-barrier, blood-placental barrier, and the blood-testicular barrier. There is no blood-lung barrier for the distribution of medication.