A drug for narcolepsy is prescribed for a 70-year-old nursing home patient. What adjustment in drug administration does the nurse expect to make for this patient?
a. Ensuring that the drug is taken with a meal to prevent nausea.
b. Giving the drug earlier in the day to prevent nighttime incontinence.
c. Giving a lower-than-normal dose to avoid changes in thinking patterns.
d. Crushing the capsule and mixing it with gelatin to make swallowing easier.
C
Older adults are more sensitive to drugs for narcolepsy and often have greater-than-expected in-tended responses, as well as more severe side effects, including changes in thinking patterns and problems with movement. Prescribed doses are usually lower than normal, at least when first prescribed, until it is known how the patient responds to the drug.
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