A patient who has recently begun taking interferon beta reports feeling depressed. Which action by the nurse is correct?
a. Notify the provider of these symptoms.
b. Reassure the patient that these symptoms will subside.
c. Request an order for an antidepressant medication.
d. Suggest counseling to discuss the effects of this chronic disease.
A
Interferon beta may promote or exacerbate depression and some patients may experience suicidal ideation or may attempt suicide. The provider should be notified so that the patient may be mo-nitored and a reduction of dose may be required. Reassuring the patient is not correct because the symptoms may worsen. Patients experiencing depression should be referred to a psychiatrist for treatment. The depression is caused by the drug and should not be considered a normal effect of the disease.
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