A patient, who has intermittent claudication, has been taking 400 mg of pentoxifylline (Trental) three times daily with meals for 2 weeks
The patient calls the clinic and reports mild flushing, occasional gastrointestinal upset, and continued pain in both legs. How will the nurse advise the patient?
a. "Expect side effects to diminish as drug effects increase in several weeks."
b. "Notify the provider of the continued pain and request increasing the dose."
c. "Take a daily aspirin tablet to enhance the effects of pentoxifylline."
d. "Take the medication 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal."
ANS: A
Patients should be counseled that the desired therapeutic effects may take to 3 months. This patient's side effects are mild and therefore do not warrant discontinuing the drug. This patient is receiving the maximum recommended dose. Aspirin is not indicated. Taking the medication with meals and not on an empty stomach minimizes gastrointestinal effects.
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