The nurse notes that after surgery, a client is unable to achieve pain relief from the analgesics prescribed. A review of the client's medical records reveals a history of alcohol abuse. What inferences can the nurse make?
1. The client has an unreported addiction to the pain medication being prescribed.
2. The client has a history of using this medication at home.
3. The client is likely cross-tolerant to the prescribed analgesic.
4. The client has a dual diagnosis relating to alcohol and drug addiction.
3. The client is likely cross-tolerant to the prescribed analgesic.
Rationale:
Cross-tolerance results when tolerance to one substance also results in a tolerance to another drug. The client's heavy use of alcohol likely has resulted in a tolerance to alcohol and, by association, to the prescribed analgesic. There are no data to support a suspicion that the client is addicted to the medication takes the medication at home, or has a dual diagnosis.
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