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
Peripheral edema is more commonly associated with right-sided heart failure rather than left-sided. This is because right-sided heart failure leads to systemic venous congestion, causing fluid to accumulate in the peripheral tissues, particularly in the legs and ankles.
Choice B rationale
Pulmonary edema is a major concern in left-sided heart failure due to the inability of the left ventricle to effectively pump blood out to the systemic circulation. This results in blood backing up into the pulmonary veins, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
Choice C rationale
Liver edema, or hepatomegaly, is more typically seen in right-sided heart failure, where the failure of the right ventricle causes blood to back up into the systemic circulation, affecting the liver and other organs.
Choice D rationale
Abdominal edema, or ascites, is also more associated with right-sided heart failure. This condition occurs due to increased pressure in the veins and capillaries, leading to fluid leakage into the abdominal cavity.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
The half-life of a drug refers to the time it takes for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce by half. It is not a primary consideration when substituting generic drugs for brand-name drugs.
Choice B rationale
Critical concentration is the amount of a drug needed to achieve therapeutic effects. While important, it is not the main factor in generic substitution.
Choice C rationale
Distribution describes how a drug is dispersed throughout the body's tissues and fluids. This factor is crucial for drug efficacy but not directly related to substituting generic drugs.
Choice D rationale
Bioavailability is the degree and rate at which an active drug ingredient is absorbed and becomes available at the site of action. Generic drugs must have the same bioavailability as brand-name drugs to ensure they are just as effective.
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