The client has been ordered allopurinol (Zyloprim) and is preparing for discharge. What should the nurse include in the discharge instructions?
This medication will target the inflammation and pain during an acute attack
This medication decreases the production of uric acid
Kidney function tests are not necessary when using this medication
Limit fluid intake to 1000cc per day to prevent urinary incontinence
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Allopurinol does not directly target inflammation or pain in acute gout attacks; it lowers uric acid levels to prevent future attacks. Anti-inflammatories like NSAIDs or colchicine manage acute symptoms. This statement is inaccurate, as allopurinol’s role is preventive, not for acute symptom relief.
Choice B reason: Allopurinol inhibits xanthine oxidase, reducing uric acid production, which prevents urate crystal formation and gout attacks. It is used for long-term management of hyperuricemia. This statement is accurate, as decreased uric acid production is the primary mechanism, critical for patient education on its purpose.
Choice C reason: Kidney function tests are necessary with allopurinol, as it is renally excreted, and impaired renal function can increase toxicity risk (e.g., rash, interstitial nephritis). Monitoring ensures safe use, especially in gout patients with potential renal issues, making this statement inaccurate for discharge instructions.
Choice D reason: Limiting fluid intake to 1000cc daily is inappropriate; high fluid intake (2-3L/day) is recommended with allopurinol to prevent urate kidney stones by diluting urine. This statement is inaccurate, as it contradicts the need for hydration to support uric acid excretion and prevent complications.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Obesity significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus by promoting insulin resistance. Excess adipose tissue, particularly visceral fat, releases free fatty acids and cytokines, impairing glucose uptake in cells. This leads to hyperglycemia and beta-cell dysfunction, with obese individuals having a 5-10 times higher risk of developing this condition.
Choice B reason: Hypothyroidism is less directly linked to obesity than type 2 diabetes. While it can cause weight gain due to slowed metabolism, obesity is not a primary risk factor for hypothyroidism. Thyroid dysfunction arises more from autoimmune or iodine-related causes, making it a less likely complication compared to diabetes.
Choice C reason: Osteoporosis risk is not strongly associated with obesity. Excess body weight may increase bone density due to mechanical loading, but it does not directly cause bone loss. Obesity-related inflammation may have minor effects, but type 2 diabetes poses a far greater risk due to metabolic changes.
Choice D reason: Migraine headaches are not a primary complication of obesity. While obesity may exacerbate migraines through inflammatory pathways or comorbidities like sleep apnea, the association is weaker than with type 2 diabetes. Metabolic and insulin-related effects of obesity make diabetes the most significant and direct risk.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Physiologic doses of glucocorticoids, like hydrocortisone, mimic normal cortisol production (20-30 mg/day) in adrenal insufficiency, restoring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis feedback. This maintains metabolism, stress response, and immune function without excess. This statement is accurate, as these doses replace deficient cortisol to stabilize endocrine function.
Choice B reason: Physiologic doses have minimal impact on fluid and electrolyte balance compared to pharmacologic doses, which cause sodium retention via mineralocorticoid effects. In adrenal insufficiency, physiologic doses normalize cortisol without significant fluid shifts. This statement is inaccurate, as electrolyte effects are secondary and less pronounced.
Choice C reason: Physiologic doses replace cortisol in adrenal insufficiency, not treat inflammation. Pharmacologic (higher) doses suppress inflammation in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting cytokine production. This statement is inaccurate, as physiologic doses are insufficient for anti-inflammatory effects required in such conditions.
Choice D reason: Glucocorticoids increase, not lower, blood glucose by promoting gluconeogenesis and insulin resistance. Physiologic doses maintain normal glucose metabolism in adrenal insufficiency but do not replace insulin’s role. This statement is inaccurate, as glucocorticoids oppose insulin’s glucose-lowering effects, even at physiologic levels.
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