The patient has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. What is the best medication education the nurse gives to the patient's husband?

Question

1. "The medication may help her symptoms for a little while."
2. "The medication has serious side effects if used for a long time."
3. "Her symptoms will improve as long as she takes the medication."
4. "Her symptoms should begin improving in a few days."

Answer 1

1
Rationale 1: Medications will only slow the progression of the disease.
Rationale 2: The medications are usually not used over a long period of time.
Rationale 3: Improvement with medication usually only lasts a matter of months.
Rationale 4: It takes a minimum of 1 to 4 weeks to begin to see improvement.
Global Rationale: Medications will only slow the progression of the disease. Improvement with medication usually lasts only a matter of months. It takes a minimum of 1 to 4 weeks to begin to see improvement. The medications do not have serious side effects and are usually not used over a long period of time.