When educating a client on the use of an adjuvant medication, which statement best demonstrates the nurse's understanding of this therapy?
a. "These medications are used instead of opioids to decrease the likelihood of addiction."
b. "Ad-juvant medications are prescribed because they seldom cause any significant side effects."
c. "These types of medications are used to eliminate the side effects of opioid medications."
d. "These drugs are used in combination with analgesics to increase the effect of the analgesics.
ANS: D
Adjuvant medications are not analgesics but are thought to alter the perception of pain and are used with analgesics to potentiate the effect of the analgesics. Adjuvant medications are used with opioids and may have long half-lives in older adults. The nurse must monitor the patient for adverse effects. Adjuvant medications do not eliminate the side effects of opioids.
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