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)
Photograph of an occupational therapist assisting a patient with learning independence in activities
Patient Teaching
Preoperative and Postoperative Patient Instructions
A patient undergoing hemodialysis.
Sandwich or capture enzyme immunoassay for patient IgM (double capture: IgM capture, Ag capture).