Prior to administering a newly prescribed antibiotic, the nurse asks the patient if any other drugs have been taken today. The patient responds, "Why do you need to know?" Which nursing responses are indicated? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Standard Text: Select all that apply

Question

1. "I need to be certain you are not taking another antibiotic."
2. "Some drugs block the action of others."
3. "Some drugs increase the activity of other drugs."
4. "The antibiotic I am about to give you is a prodrug."
5. "We don't want to increase first-pass effect."

Answer 1

2,3
Rationale 1: There are many instances when a patient is prescribed more than one antibiotic at a time.

Rationale 2: Some drug–drug interactions are antagonistic, blocking or opposing the effects of the drugs taken.

Rationale 3: Some drug–drug interactions are synergistic, resulting in a potentiated effect.

Rationale 4: Prodrugs have no pharmacologic activity unless they are first metabolized to their active form by the body. This is not dependent on whether or not other drugs are present in the system.

Rationale 5: This question has nothing to do with first-pass effect.

Global Rationale: There are many instances when a patient is prescribed more than one antibiotic at a time. Some drug–drug interactions are antagonistic, blocking or opposing the effects of the drugs taken, and some are synergistic, resulting in a potentiated effect. Prodrugs have no pharmacologic activity unless they are first metabolized to their active form by the body. This is not dependent on whether or not other drugs are present in the system. This question has nothing to do with first-pass effect.