A patient who has recently begun taking captopril (Capoten) to treat HTN calls a clinic to report a persistent cough.
The nurse will perform which action?
Reassure the client that this is nothing to worry about and will diminish over time.
Tell the patient to stop taking the drug immediately as this is a serious side effect of the drug.
Schedule an appointment with the provider to discuss changing to an ARB.
Instruct the patient to go to the emergency room immediately as this is a hypersensitivity reaction.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Reassuring the client without addressing the persistent cough would not be appropriate as it may signal a need for a different medication. The ACE inhibitor captopril can cause a bothersome, persistent cough in some patients due to increased bradykinin levels.
Choice B rationale
Instructing the patient to stop the medication immediately is not advised without consulting the healthcare provider. While the cough is a known side effect, stopping the medication abruptly may lead to unmanaged hypertension.
Choice C rationale
Scheduling an appointment with the provider to discuss changing to an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) is appropriate. ARBs do not typically cause a persistent cough, making them a suitable alternative for patients who experience this side effect with ACE inhibitors.
Choice D rationale
Instructing the patient to go to the emergency room immediately is unnecessary as the persistent cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors and not an emergency situation. Emergency action is warranted for symptoms of angioedema, such as swelling of the face or throat.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Ethosuximide (Zarontin) is used to treat absence seizures and is not suitable for emergency control of status epilepticus. It primarily works by affecting the T-type calcium channels in the brain.
Choice B rationale
Diazepam (Valium) is used in the emergency control of status epilepticus due to its fast-acting anticonvulsant properties. It enhances the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA, leading to an inhibitory effect on neuronal activity.
Choice C rationale
Phenobarbital (Luminal) is a barbiturate used for long-term management of epilepsy but is less preferred for immediate emergency control of status epilepticus due to its slower onset of action.
Choice D rationale
Phenytoin (Dilantin) can be used for the maintenance treatment of seizures, but it is less effective for the immediate control of status epilepticus compared to benzodiazepines like diazepam.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Serotonin does not compete with anticholinergic agents at muscarinic acetylcholine receptor sites; anticholinergics target these receptors to inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system.
Choice B rationale
Anticholinergics do not increase norepinephrine at the neuromuscular junction.
Choice C rationale
Nicotinic receptors are primarily affected by different classes of drugs, such as neuromuscular blockers.
Choice D rationale
Anticholinergics inhibit the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system by blocking muscarinic receptors, reducing bodily functions like saliva production, digestion, and urination.
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