Biology Forums - Study Force

An older client asks the nurse how to avoid potential drug interactions. Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?
 
  1. Take over-the-counter medications rather than prescription ones whenever possible.
  2. Obtain all medications from one pharmacy when possible.
  3. Ask for free drug samples rather than getting prescriptions filled at a pharmacy.
  4. Use memory aids such as pill reminders.

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Over-the-counter medications can interact with other medications. This will not lessen the likelihood of drug interactions.
Rationale 2: Obtaining all medications from one pharmacy ensures that that pharmacy has a record of all medications. This could make it easier to catch potential interactions.
Rationale 3: Using free drug samples can increase the risk of drug interactions unless the pharmacist filling the rest of a client's prescriptions is informed that the client is obtaining medications from other sources.
Rationale 4: Using memory aids such as pill reminders can make it less likely that a client will forget to take a medication, but will not reduce the risk of drug interactions.
Global Rationale: Obtaining all medications from one pharmacy ensures that that pharmacy has a record of all medications. This could make it easier to catch potential interactions. Over-the-counter medications can interact with other medications. This will not lessen the likelihood of drug interactions. Using free drug samples can increase the risk of drug interactions unless the pharmacist filling the rest of a client's prescriptions is informed that the client is obtaining medications from other sources. Using memory aids such as pill reminders can make it less likely that a client will forget to take a medication, but will not reduce the risk of drug interactions.