A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the family of a client who has a new prescription for donepezil.
Which of the following therapeutic effects should the nurse inform the family to expect?

Choice A rationale:

Fexofenadine can be taken with or without food, and there are no specific interactions with magnesium hydroxide. However, it’s always important to consult a healthcare provider before combining medications.

Choice B rationale:

While staying hydrated is generally good advice, there’s no specific requirement to drink up to one liter of fluid per day while taking fexofenadine.

Choice C rationale:

Fexofenadine should not be taken with fruit juices such as orange juice because they can decrease the absorption of the medication, making it less effective.

Choice D rationale:

Fexofenadine can cause side effects such as dizziness or drowsiness in some people. Therefore, it’s important to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

Choice A rationale:

Levalbuterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs. Therefore, a decrease in wheezing is a therapeutic effect of the medication, making this the correct choice.

Choice B rationale:

While levalbuterol can cause an increase in respiratory rate as a side effect, it is not considered a therapeutic effect of the medication. The primary goal of levalbuterol is to improve breathing by relaxing the muscles of the airways, not to increase respiratory rate.

Choice C rationale:

Levalbuterol does not directly affect nausea. It is primarily used to treat conditions related to breathing such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Choice D rationale:

An increased heart rate is a potential side effect of levalbuterol, not a therapeutic effect.