A 73-year-old male patient is in the clinic for a yearly physical and is asking for a prescription for sildenafil (Viagra). He has listed on his health history that he is taking a nitrate for angina. The nurse is aware that which problem may occur if sildenafil is taken with a nitrate?
Reduced effectiveness of the sildenafil
Significant decrease in blood pressure
Significant increase in pulse rate
Increased risk of bleeding
The Correct Answer is B
A. Reduced effectiveness of the sildenafil: Sildenafil’s effect is not the primary concern when combined with nitrates; the interaction is about additive vasodilation rather than sildenafil becoming ineffective.
B. Significant decrease in blood pressure: Combining sildenafil (a PDE-5 inhibitor) with nitrates causes marked vasodilation that can produce a dangerous drop in blood pressure (severe hypotension), which is why coadministration is contraindicated.
C. Significant increase in pulse rate: Although reflex tachycardia can occur with hypotension, the main clinically significant and consistently reported problem with sildenafil + nitrates is large decreases in blood pressure rather than a primary sustained pulse increase.
D. Increased risk of bleeding: There is no direct mechanism by which sildenafil combined with nitrates causes increased bleeding risk; the major safety issue is hypotension.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["2"]
Explanation
1,200,000units÷600,000units/mL=2mL.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. "Dietary supplements may be expensive and are not typically covered by insurance.": Cost and lack of insurance coverage are true for many supplements, but this is not the most critical safety point when the client is taking nitrates.
B. "Dietary supplements have not been tested and approved by the government.": Dietary supplements are regulated differently than prescription drugs and do not require FDA preapproval for efficacy, but this statement is general and not the most immediate safety concern for a client on nitrates.
C. "Dietary supplements can cause a drug-drug interaction with nitrates.": Some over-the-counter “sexual enhancement” or herbal products have been found to contain undeclared PDE-5 inhibitors (for example, sildenafil) or analogs; those hidden ingredients can dangerously interact with nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin) and cause severe hypotension -this is the most important safety point to emphasize.
D. "There is not enough evidence that dietary supplements are effective for erectile dysfunction.": Many supplements lack strong evidence of benefit, but the immediate and potentially life-threatening interaction risk with nitrates is a higher-priority safety concern for this patient.
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