A client who is taking digoxin asks the nurse if they can take an antacid for heartburn. What is the nurse's best response?

A) The two main purposes for diuretics are to decrease fluid and decrease hypertension (lower blood pressure):
Diuretics primarily work by promoting the excretion of excess sodium and water from the body, which decreases fluid volume. This reduction in fluid volume helps to lower blood pressure, especially in conditions like hypertension and heart failure, where fluid buildup can exacerbate symptoms.

B) The two main purposes are to decrease fluid volume in the tissues and circulation, increasing blood pressure:
The primary purpose of diuretics is to decrease fluid volume, which helps lower blood pressure, not increase it. Diuretics are used to reduce the workload on the heart and the risk of complications like stroke and heart failure by lowering blood pressure and removing excess fluid from the body.

C) The two main purposes of diuretics are to increase fluid in the body and blood pressure:
Diuretics do not increase fluid in the body. In fact, they decrease fluid in the body to help reduce blood pressure. This option contradicts the fundamental mechanism of action of diuretics.

D) The two main purposes of diuretics are to increase circulating fluid and lower blood pressure:
Diuretics do not increase circulating fluid; they decrease it. By promoting the excretion of sodium and water, diuretics decrease the volume of circulating fluid, which is a key factor in lowering blood pressure.

A) Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medications used to treat infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria. They do not have any direct effect on clot formation. Antibiotics work by targeting specific parts of bacterial cells, such as cell walls, proteins, or DNA, but they do not interfere with the blood coagulation system. Therefore, antibiotics are not a drug group that inhibits clot formation.

B) Analgesics
Analgesics are pain-relieving medications used to reduce pain, and they include both non-opioid (e.g., acetaminophen, NSAIDs) and opioid medications (e.g., morphine, oxycodone). While some analgesics, particularly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can affect platelet function and may slightly influence clotting, their primary function is to relieve pain.

C) Antidepressants
Antidepressants are medications used to treat mood disorders, including depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions. These drugs work by altering the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine. Antidepressants do not directly affect blood clotting mechanisms, although some classes, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can have mild anticoagulant effects due to their impact on platelet aggregation.

D) Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants inhibit the coagulation cascade, a series of complex biochemical reactions that lead to the formation of a blood clot. Common examples of anticoagulants include warfarin, heparin, and the newer direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as rivaroxaban and apixaban. Anticoagulants are primarily used to reduce the risk of clot formation in conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and atrial fibrillation (AF), and they are essential in managing and preventing clot-related complications.