Question

A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has a new prescription for digoxin (dig) and takes multiple other medications. Concurrent use of which of the following medications places the patient at risk for digoxin toxicity? A) Amiodarone B) Ibuprofen C) Vitamin C D) Furosemide

Answer 1

The concurrent use of amiodarone places the patient at risk for digoxin toxicity. Ibuprofen and vitamin C do not increase the risk. Furosemide can cause a decrease in potassium levels, which may increase the risk of toxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should be aware that concurrent use of amiodarone places the patient at risk for digoxin toxicity. Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication that can increase the levels of digoxin in the blood, leading to toxicity symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the patient closely for signs of digoxin toxicity and adjust the dosage as needed.

On the other hand, ibuprofen and vitamin C are not known to interact significantly with digoxin and do not increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.

Furosemide, a diuretic, can cause a decrease in potassium levels in the body, which may increase the risk of toxicity from digoxin. However, it is not the concurrent use of furosemide itself that places the patient at risk, but rather the potential electrolyte imbalance it can cause. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the patient's potassium levels and adjust the digoxin dosage if necessary.