A nurse is preparing to simultaneously administer two drugs to a patient. The nurse knows that the drugs have been ordered to be given together because of their synergistic effect. This means that
A) the adverse effects of one of the drugs are nullified by the other drug.
B) the combined effects are greater than the effects of either one of the drugs alone.
C) one of the drugs enhances metabolism, while the other drug enhances either distribution or absorption.
D) both drugs are toxic in isolation but therapeutic when administered together.
B
Feedback:
Synergism occurs when two drugs with different sites or mechanisms of action produce greater effects when taken together. This does not mean that potential toxicity or adverse effects are "canceled out." The two drugs would not individually affect different aspects of pharmacokinetics.
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