Vital Signs Day 1:
Temperature 36.2 0 C (97.20 F) Respiratory rate 18/min
Heart rate 74/min
Blood pressure 1 1 8/68 mm Hg Sp02 96% on room air
Day 7:
Temperature 36.9 0 C (98.40 F) Heart rate 86/min
Respiratory rate 18/min Blood pressure 98/66 mm Hg Sp02 97% on room air
Provider Prescriptions Day 1:
Levodopa 250 mg/Carbidopa 25 mg 1 tablet daily Day
7:
Levodopa 250 mg/Carbidopa 25 mg 2 tablets daily
Which of the following statements should the nurse include when teaching the client about the prescribed medication? Select all that apply.
A.
“Consumption of a high-protein meal can reduce the effectiveness of the medication”
B.
“You can experience vivid nightmares.”
C.
“You may notice your urine becomes lighter in color.”
D.
“The medication can cause nausea, so take with a meal.”
E.
“This medication can make you light-headed if you stand up too quickly from a seated or lying position.”
F.
“You may initially notice an increase in involuntary movements.”
Answer and Explanation
The correct statements to include when teaching the client about levodopa/carbidopa are:
A. “Consumption of a high-protein meal can reduce the effectiveness of the medication”
D. “The medication can cause nausea, so take with a meal.”
E. “This medication can make you light-headed if you stand up too quickly from a seated or lying position.”
F. “You may initially notice an increase in involuntary movements.”
Explanation:
- A. High-protein meals can interfere with the absorption of levodopa because amino acids from proteins compete with levodopa for transport across the blood-brain barrier, potentially reducing its effectiveness.
- D. Levodopa can cause nausea as a side effect. Taking the medication with a meal can help mitigate this effect.
- E. Levodopa can cause orthostatic hypotension, which may lead to light-headedness when standing up quickly.
- F. Initial treatment with levodopa can lead to an increase in involuntary movements or dyskinesias as the body adjusts to the medication.
B. Vivid nightmares are not a common side effect of levodopa/carbidopa.
C. The color of urine is typically not affected by levodopa/carbidopa, so this statement is not relevant.