A nurse is administering morning medications. The nurse gives a patient multiple medications, two of which compete for plasma albumin receptor sites. As a result of this concurrent administration, the nurse can anticipate that what might occur?

Question

(Select all that apply.)
a. Binding of one or both agents is reduced
b. Plasma drug levels of free drug will rise
c. Plasma drug level of free drug will fall
d. The increase in free drug can intensify effects
e. The increase in bound drug can intensify effects

Answer 1

ANS: A, B, D
When two drugs bind to the same site on plasma albumin, coadministration of those drugs produces competition for binding. As a result, binding of one or both agents is reduced, causing plasma levels of free drug to rise. The increase in free drug can intensify the effect, but usually undergoes rapid elimination. The increase in plasma levels of free drug is rarely sustained.