Question

A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who recently began taking furosemide. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

a. Increase dietary potassium while taking the medication.
b. Lie down for 30 min after taking the medication.
c. Take the medication 30 min before going to bed.
d. Avoid taking the medication with dairy products."

Answer 1

The correct instruction for a client taking furosemide, a loop diuretic, is to increase dietary potassium to counteract the potential side effect of hypokalemia. Furosemide works by blocking reabsorption of Na+ and Cl- in the loop of Henle, leading to increased urination.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of this question is Medicine and it relates to the medication furosemide, which is a loop diuretic used to treat hypertension. The correct instruction for a client who recently began taking furosemide is a. Increase dietary potassium while taking the medication. Loop diuretics like furosemide inhibit the reabsorption of Na+ and Cl- ions in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle, causing increased urination. This enhancement in the urine output happens because when these ions are not reabsorbed, water is not reabsorbed as well, leading to diuresis or increased urine production.

To counteract the possibility of hypokalemia, which is a common side effect of this type of diuretic, increasing dietary potassium is beneficial. It is important not to take the medication right before bed to avoid nocturia, which could disrupt sleep due to the need to urinate. Furosemide does not require one to lie down after taking it nor does it interact with dairy products, unlike certain other medications.