A patient who just started taking efalizumab (Raptiva) phones the clinic complaining of headache, chills, fever, nausea, and myalgia. What response should the nurse offer?
a. "It sounds like you have the flu. Drink plenty of fluids and treat the symptoms."
b. "These effects are not uncommon and should subside after the third dose."
c. "You are experiencing an allergic reaction. Discontinue the medication."
d. "We should draw your blood to be sure you are not at risk for developing clots."
B
The nurse should tell the patient that the flulike symptoms are not uncommon. In clinical trials, 29% of patients experienced them after the first one or two doses. By the third dose, the flulike symptoms generally subside.
The patient is demonstrating adverse effects of efalizumab, which should subside by the third dose.
The patient is not having an allergic reaction to the drug.
Efalizumab may cause thrombocytopenia, which would put the patient at risk for bleeding, not clotting.
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All of the following are data collection sources except:
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