The opioid acetaminophen/hydrocodone is prescribed for a patient who has had surgery. The nurse informs the patient that which common adverse effects can occur with this medication? (Select all that apply.)
Constipation
Lightheadedness
Pain
Urinary retention
Diarrhea
Correct Answer : A,B,D
A. Constipation is a common adverse effect of opioid medications, including hydrocodone.
Opioids can slow down bowel motility, leading to constipation.
B. Lightheadedness is a common side effect of opioids, particularly when a patient first starts
taking them or when the dose is increased. It can be due to the central nervous system depressant effects of the medication.
C. Pain relief is the therapeutic effect of acetaminophen/hydrocodone, not an adverse effect.
D. Urinary retention can occur with opioid use due to their effects on the urinary sphincters and bladder muscle tone. Patients may experience difficulty urinating or incomplete emptying of the bladder.
E. Diarrhea is not a common adverse effect of acetaminophen/hydrocodone. In fact, opioids more commonly cause constipation rather than diarrhea.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","C"]
Explanation
A. Increased heart rate: Sympathetic nervous system stimulation typically leads to increased heart rate as part of the "fight or flight" response.
B. Decrease in urinary bladder muscle tone: Sympathetic stimulation would typically cause relaxation of the urinary bladder, leading to increased muscle tone.
C. Increased blood pressure: Sympathetic nervous system activation results in vasoconstriction and increased cardiac output, leading to elevated blood pressure.
D. Decreased salivation: Sympathetic stimulation can lead to decreased salivation as part of the "fight or flight" response, but it's not a consistent finding.
E. Decreased bowel sounds: Sympathetic activation can inhibit gastrointestinal motility, leading to decreased bowel sounds, but it's not a universal finding in sympathetic stimulation.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. The drug level is at a toxic level, and the dosage needs to be reduced. Phenytoin has a narrow therapeutic range, and levels above 20 mcg/mL are considered to be in the toxic range.
Symptoms of phenytoin toxicity can include nystagmus, ataxia, slurred speech, and confusion. Therefore, if a patient's phenytoin level is 23 mcg/mL, the nurse should be concerned about potential toxicity and consult with the healthcare provider to adjust the dosage.
B. The patient's seizures should be under control if she is also taking a second antiepileptic drug.
While combination therapy with multiple antiepileptic drugs can help control seizures, a phenytoin level of 23 mcg/mL is still concerning for toxicity and requires intervention.
C. The patient is at risk for seizures because the drug level is not at a therapeutic level. A phenytoin level of 23 mcg/mL is actually above the therapeutic range and is more indicative of toxicity rather than subtherapeutic levels.
D. The patient's seizures should be under control because this is a therapeutic drug level. A phenytoin level of 23 mcg/mL is not within the therapeutic range but rather in the toxic range, so the patient may experience symptoms of toxicity rather than having adequate seizure control.
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