The nurse is caring for an obese patient with hyperlipidemia who has tried to modify his diet to lose weight and control serum lipid levels without success

Question

He is currently taking a combination of medications but his total cholesterol remains above 200 . What future therapy might help this patient? A) Endocannabinoid blocker
B) Bile acid sequestrant with niacin
C) Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and gemfibrozil
D) Peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha activator

Answer 1

A
Feedback:
Blocking the endocannabinoid system results in feelings of satiety and decreased appetite, leading to weight loss; decreased release of growth hormone, increased oxygen and glucose use in the muscle, decreased fat synthesis in the liver, decreased levels of triglycerides and low density lipoproteins, and increased levels of high density lipoproteins, improving the lipid profile; increased sensitivity of insulin receptor sites, leading to decreased blood glucose levels; decreased fat production and storage; increased levels of adiponectin; and decreased activity of tumor necrosis factor, a proinflammatory agent, and decreased activity of C-reactive protein, which is associated with proinflammatory and prothrombotic states. Combining bile acid sequestrant with niacin or HMG-CoA with gemfibrozil is contraindicated. Peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha activators help to control lipid levels but do not contribute to dietary changes and appetite suppression.