A patient has been given a prescription for levodopa-carbidopa for a new diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. The patient asks the nurse, "Why are there two drugs in this pill?" The nurse's best response reflects which fact?
Carbidopa prevents the breakdown of levodopa in the periphery.
Carbidopa is the biologic precursor of dopamine and can penetrate into the central nervous system.
Carbidopa allows for larger doses of levodopa to be given.
There are concerns about drug-food interactions with levodopa therapy that do not exist with the combination therapy.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Carbidopa prevents the breakdown of levodopa in the periphery, specifically in the gastrointestinal tract and peripheral tissues, allowing more levodopa to reach the brain and be converted to dopamine. This enhances the effectiveness of levodopa therapy in managing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
B. Carbidopa is not the biologic precursor of dopamine. It is a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor that does not cross the blood-brain barrier.
C. Carbidopa does not directly allow for larger doses of levodopa to be given. However, by
inhibiting the peripheral breakdown of levodopa, it enhances the availability of levodopa to the central nervous system, potentially improving therapeutic efficacy.
D. While levodopa-carbidopa combination therapy may have fewer drug-food interactions compared to levodopa alone, the primary reason for combining these medications is to enhance the effectiveness of levodopa by preventing its peripheral breakdown.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Partial agonists like nalbuphine have a lower dependency potential than full agonists. This means they are less likely to lead to physical dependence or tolerance when used for pain
management.
B. Partial agonists do not necessarily have a higher potency than agonists. Potency refers to the dose of a drug required to produce a specific effect, which can vary among different drugs regardless of their classification as agonists or partial agonists.
C. Partial agonists like nalbuphine are not typically used for their anti-inflammatory effects.
They are primarily used for pain management.
D. Partial agonists like nalbuphine are not typically used to reverse the effects of opiates. They may be used in certain situations to manage opioid-induced side effects or in cases of opioid overdose, but their primary indication is for pain management.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. The patient's respiratory rate: Morphine sulfate is an opioid analgesic that can cause
respiratory depression as a side effect. Therefore, assessing the patient's respiratory rate is crucial before administering the medication to ensure it is within normal limits.
B. The appearance of the incision: While assessing the incision is important for overall surgical site assessment, it's not directly related to the administration of morphine sulfate.
C. The date of the patient's last bowel movement: Bowel movements may be impacted by anesthesia and surgery, but they are not directly relevant to assessing the safety of administering morphine sulfate.
D. The patient's pulse rate: Pulse rate is important for overall assessment of the patient's
condition but may not directly indicate the need for or safety of administering morphine sulfate.
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