An older client has had an instance of drug toxicity and asks why this happens, since the client has been on this medication for years at the same dose. What response by the nurse is best?
"Changes in your liver cause drugs to be metabolized differently."
"Perhaps you don't need as high a dose of the drug as before."
"Stomach muscles atrophy with age and you digest more slowly."
"Your body probably can't tolerate as much medication anymore."
The Correct Answer is A
A. Aging affects liver function, which can reduce the metabolism of many drugs. This means medications may stay in the body longer and reach toxic levels, even if the dosage hasn't changed.
B. While this may be true, it doesn't explain why the same dose might now be too much.
C. Slower digestion is not the main reason for drug toxicity; liver and kidney changes are more relevant.
D. This is vague and non-specific, and does not educate the client on the physiological changes that occur with aging.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Certain medications can cause liver damage or drug-induced hepatitis, but they do not cause hepatitis A, which is a viral infection.
B. Hepatitis A is commonly transmitted through the fecal-oral route, often via contaminated food or water. Eating undercooked or contaminated shellfish like shrimp is a known risk factor.
C. Hepatitis A is not transmitted through blood transfusions; that risk is associated with hepatitis B and C.
D. While Epstein-Barr virus affects the liver, it is not linked to co-infection with hepatitis A.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. A liver biopsy provides direct histological examination of liver tissue, making it the definitive method for diagnosing cirrhosis by revealing the extent of fibrosis and architectural distortion.
B. Elevated AST can suggest liver injury but is not specific or conclusive for cirrhosis.
C. Elevated ALT is also a nonspecific marker of liver damage and cannot alone confirm cirrhosis.
D. Elevated LDH may occur in liver disease but is a general marker of tissue breakdown and lacks diagnostic specificity for cirrhosis.
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