The nurse is caring for a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who is on high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for joint pain relief.

The patient expresses concerns about gastric irritation.

What medication could the nurse suggest to the physician to alleviate gastric irritation?

Choice A rationale
Misoprostol is a medication that can help protect the stomach lining and reduce the risk of gastric irritation and ulcers caused by NSAIDs.
Choice B rationale
Ranitidine is a type of antacid that can help reduce stomach acid and relieve symptoms of heartburn, but it does not specifically protect the stomach lining from the effects of NSAIDs.
Choice C rationale
Sucralfate is a medication that can help treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestines, but it does not specifically protect the stomach lining from the effects of NSAIDs.
Choice D rationale
Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that can reduce stomach acid and relieve symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but it does not specifically protect the stomach lining from the effects of NSAIDs. Prednisone Prednisone Explore

Choice A rationale
A persistent cough is not directly related to the administration of famotidine. Famotidine is a histamine-2 blocker that works by decreasing the amount of acid the stomach produces. It is used to treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestines and to treat conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid. A persistent cough could be a symptom of many other conditions, but it is not a direct indicator of the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of famotidine.
Choice B rationale
The absence of a sour taste in the mouth, often associated with acid reflux, could suggest that famotidine is working as it should. However, the absence of a sour taste does not definitively indicate that the medication has had its intended effect, as the patient may not have experienced this symptom even before taking the medication.
Choice C rationale
Famotidine is used to decrease the amount of acid in the stomach. A normal stomach pH is typically around 1.5 to 3.5, which is highly acidic. If a patient’s stomach pH is measured at 5, which is less acidic than normal, it could suggest that the famotidine has not had its intended effect of reducing stomach acid.
Choice D rationale
While headaches are listed as a common side effect of famotidine, the presence of headaches does not necessarily suggest that the medication has not had its intended effect. Headaches could be caused by a variety of factors and are not a direct indicator of the level of stomach acid or the effectiveness of famotidine.