A nurse on the oncology unit is evaluating a client’s response after receiving a dose of aprepitant. Which of the following therapeutic effects should the nurse expect?
A.
Decreased dysrhythmias
B.
Absence of nausea
C.
Decreased incisional pain
D.
Absence of dizziness
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. Absence of nausea.
Explanation:
Aprepitant is a medication classified as a neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist. It is primarily used in the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, particularly for patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Its mechanism of action involves blocking the effects of substance P, a neuropeptide associated with the vomiting reflex, at the NK1 receptors in the central nervous system.
When evaluating a client who has received aprepitant, the primary therapeutic effect that the nurse should expect is the absence of nausea. This is especially relevant for oncology patients who often experience significant nausea and vomiting as side effects of chemotherapy agents. Aprepitant is frequently used in combination with other antiemetics, such as 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (e.g., ondansetron) and corticosteroids, to provide comprehensive protection against nausea and vomiting.
Other options listed—such as decreased dysrhythmias, decreased incisional pain, and absence of dizziness—are not relevant to the action of aprepitant. While some medications might address these issues, they are not the therapeutic goals of aprepitant administration. For example, decreased dysrhythmias would pertain more to cardiac medications, and incisional pain management would involve analgesics. Dizziness may be a side effect of various medications, but it is not a primary therapeutic target of aprepitant.
In summary, when a client receives aprepitant, the expected therapeutic outcome is the absence of nausea, significantly improving their quality of life during chemotherapy treatment. Monitoring for this effect is essential for nurses to ensure effective symptom management in oncology patients.