A patient's family is asking how to administer rivastigmine (Exelon) to their parent, who has Alzheimer's disease. The nurse should provide the patient and family with which of the following instructions?
a. "The drug should be given every morning on an empty stomach."
b. "The drug should be administered twice daily with food."
c. "Give the drug nightly before bed."
d. "Give the drug four times a day at least 2 hours after each meal."
ANS: B
Rivastigmine is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the presence of food.
Telling the patient's family to administer the drug on an empty stomach is not appropriate.
The drug should be given with food, not at bedtime.
Rivastigmine is not administered four times a day; typically it is given twice daily.
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