A patient who has been prescribed ranitidine (Zantac) reports darkened stools. What is the nurse's best action?
a. Hold the dose and notify the prescriber.
b. Document the report as the only action.
c. Reassure the patient that this is a common and harmless side effect.
d. Ask the patient if he or she has been using aspirin or any other nonsteroidal an-ti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
C
Ranitidine contains a substance that darkens the tongue and the stools. This is a harmless side effect and does not indicate a health problem. It is not a reason to stop the drug.
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