A patient taking stavudine (Zerit) telephones the clinic and reports numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. What should the nurse tell the patient?
a. The numbness is an expected side effect of the medication and will diminish.
b. The medication will probably be stopped, and the patient should come into the clinic for further evaluation.
c. The dose may be too high, and the patient should cut the tablet in half.
d. The patient should take the medication on a full stomach to reduce absorption of the drug.
ANS: B
The patient has early signs and symptoms of neuropathy, which may resolve if the drug is stopped. The patient should be taught early in treatment to report these symptoms immediately. Numbness is not an expected side effect. The patient should never be advised to cut the dose in half unless instructed to do so by a prescriber. Taking the medication on a full stomach will not affect the amount of medication absorbed.
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