An infant with recent seizures is being treated in the neonatal ...

[jeatrice]

An infant with recent seizures is being treated in the neonatal intensive care unit with phenytoin (Dilantin). The infant's low plasma protein levels during the first year of life have what consequence?
 
  A) The infant may have an unpredictable drug response.
  B) The infant may have an increased risk of toxicity.
  C) The infant may experience impaired elimination of the drug.
  D) The infant will have an increased rate of drug metabolism.

Question 2

A male patient is taking atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor) to reduce serum cholesterol. Which of the following aspects of patient teaching is most important?
 
  A) Call his physician if he develops muscle pain.
  B) It is unacceptable to eat dietary fats.
  C) Decrease the dose if lethargy occurs.
  D) Eat two eggs per day to increase protein stores.

[johnpizzaz]

Answer to Question 1

B
Feedback:
In infants, immature liver function leads to very low plasma protein levels, which limit the amount of protein binding by drugs. Consequently, the serum concentrations of highly protein-bound drugs may be higher, and toxicity may occur. This is not a result of differences in elimination or increased metabolism.

Answer to Question 2

A
Feedback:
Patients should be advised to notify their health care provider if unexplained muscle pain or tenderness occurs. The patient should avoid saturated fats when taking statins but should not entirely eliminate fats from his diet. The patient should not decrease the dose of statins without the physician's knowledge. The patient should not increase the intake of eggs due to the increase in cholesterol.