The nurse is preparing to educate a patient who has just been prescribed a sulfonamide.
Which statements should be included in the teaching plan?

Choice A rationale:

Rifampin is an antibiotic used to treat or prevent tuberculosis (TB). However, the treatment with this medication typically lasts longer than one month. In fact, TB treatment usually involves taking several drugs for a long time.

Choice B rationale:

While it’s important to take some medications with meals to increase absorption or decrease stomach upset, rifampin should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. This helps to ensure optimal absorption of the medication.

Choice C rationale:

Insomnia is not typically listed as a common side effect of rifampin. The medication can cause a number of side effects, but these more commonly include things like upset stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in behavior.

Choice D rationale:

One of the known side effects of rifampin is that it can cause a red-orange discoloration of body fluids, including urine, sweat, saliva, and tears. This can be alarming to patients if they are not forewarned, so it’s important for the nurse to provide this information during discharge instructions.

Choice A rationale:

Insulin is not absorbed most rapidly when injected in the thigh. The abdomen is actually the preferred site for insulin injection as insulin is absorbed more quickly and predictably there. The thigh is a simple area for self-injection, but regular injections in the thigh can sometimes cause discomfort when walking or running afterward.

Choice B rationale:

Using cold insulin for injection to minimize site pain is not recommended. Insulin should be at room temperature. Cold insulin might make the injection more painful.

Choice C rationale:

Massaging the site after injection to promote absorption is not advised. It can cause the insulin to be absorbed too quickly which can lead to low blood glucose levels.

Choice D rationale:

Rotating the injection site to keep insulin levels consistent is the correct choice. People who take insulin daily should rotate their injection sites. This is important because using the same spot over time can cause lipodystrophy. In this condition, fat either breaks down or builds up under the skin, causing lumps or indentations that interfere with insulin absorption.