A patient has informed the nurse that he has begun supplementing his medication regimen with a series of herbal remedies recommended by his sister-in-law

Question

Which of the following is the most important nursing responsibility regarding herbal supplements? A) Research for potential interactions with medications.
B) Instruct the patient to discontinue them if taking prescription medications.
C) Instruct the patient to take the supplements 1 hour before prescription medications.
D) Instruct the patient to take the supplements 3 hours after prescription medications.

Answer 1

A
Feedback:
Two major concerns are that the use of supplements may keep patients from seeking treatment from a health care provider and that products may interact with prescription drugs. Not all herbal supplements should be discontinued in combination with prescription medications. The herbal supplements should be administered in varying quantities and at varying times based on the medication regime. They are not always administered 1 hour before prescription medications or 3 hours after prescription medications.