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A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed captopril. The nurse should recognize that which of the following foods could cause a potential medication interaction?

a.Watermelon
b.Cantaloupe
c.Lettuce
d.Carrots

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

ACE inhibitors like captopril can increase blood potassium levels, therefore, foods high in potassium should be consumed with caution. Watermelon and cantaloupe contain higher potassium content and might interact with captopril.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should recognize that certain foods may interact with captopril, which is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used to treat hypertension and certain types of heart failure. It is important to be aware of dietary interactions with medications to ensure their efficacy and safety. For the medication captopril, foods high in potassium should be consumed with caution because ACE inhibitors can increase blood potassium levels. Among the options listed, watermelon and cantaloupe are two fruits that can have higher potassium content, so they might interact with captopril. However, vegetables such as green beans, cauliflower, zucchini (courgette), celery, and nopal as well as fruits including avocado, and unripe bananas are known to have high potassium levels, and thus, could also potentially interact with captopril. The skins of some fruits, including kiwifruit, grapes, and tomatoes, may also contribute to dietary potassium.

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