Author Question: A prescriber has ordered clonidine Catapres for a patient who has hypertension. The nurse teaches ... (Read 77 times)

littleanan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 575
A prescriber has ordered clonidine Catapres for a patient who has hypertension. The nurse teaches the patient about side effects of this drug. Which statement by the patient indicates un-derstanding of the teaching?
 
  a. I should chew sugar-free gum or drink water to reduce dry mouth.
  b. I should not drive as long as I am taking this drug.
  c. I should stand up slowly when taking this medication.
  d. I should stop taking this drug if I feel anxious or depressed.

Question 2

A woman who is breast-feeding her infant must take a prescription medication for 2 weeks. The medication is safe, but the patient wants to make sure her baby receives as little of the drug as possible. What will the nurse tell the patient to do?
 
  a. Give the baby formula as long as the mother is taking the medication
  b. Take the medication immediately after breast-feeding
  c. Pump breast milk and feed the baby by bottle
  d. Take the medication 1 hour before breast-feeding



ladyjames123

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 346
Answer to Question 1

A
Xerostomia is a common side effect of clonidine and is often uncomfortable enough that patients stop using the drug. Counseling patients to chew sugar-free gum and take frequent sips of liquid can help alleviate this discomfort. Drowsiness is common, but this side effect becomes less in-tense over time. Patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities in the first weeks of therapy if they feel this effect. The hypertensive effects of clonidine are not posture dependent, as they are with the peripheral alpha-adrenergic blockers, so orthostatic hypotension is minimal with this drug. Clonidine causes euphoria, hallucinations, and sedation in high doses and can cause anxiety or depression, although the last two effects are less common. The drug should not be stopped abruptly because of the risk of rebound hypertension, so patients experiencing un-pleasant central nervous system (CNS) effects should consult their provider about withdrawing the medication slowly.

Answer to Question 2

B
Taking the medication immediately after breast-feeding minimizes the drug concentration in the breast milk at the next feeding. Disrupting breast-feeding is not indicated. Pumping the breast milk will not diminish the drugs or drug concentration in the breast milk. Taking the medication 1 hour before breast-feeding will increase concentrations of the drug in the breast milk.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question


 

Did you know?

Signs and symptoms that may signify an eye tumor include general blurred vision, bulging eye(s), double vision, a sensation of a foreign body in the eye(s), iris defects, limited ability to move the eyelid(s), limited ability to move the eye(s), pain or discomfort in or around the eyes or eyelids, red or pink eyes, white or cloud spots on the eye(s), colored spots on the eyelid(s), swelling around the eyes, swollen eyelid(s), and general vision loss.

Did you know?

A serious new warning has been established for pregnant women against taking ACE inhibitors during pregnancy. In the study, the risk of major birth defects in children whose mothers took ACE inhibitors during the first trimester was nearly three times higher than in children whose mothers didn't take ACE inhibitors. Physicians can prescribe alternative medications for pregnant women who have symptoms of high blood pressure.

Did you know?

The modern decimal position system was the invention of the Hindus (around 800 AD), involving the placing of numerals to indicate their value (units, tens, hundreds, and so on).

Did you know?

Nearly all drugs pass into human breast milk. How often a drug is taken influences the amount of drug that will pass into the milk. Medications taken 30 to 60 minutes before breastfeeding are likely to be at peak blood levels when the baby is nursing.

Did you know?

Most women experience menopause in their 50s. However, in 1994, an Italian woman gave birth to a baby boy when she was 61 years old.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library