Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer and is taking oral morphine and docustate sodium. the nurse should instruct the client that taking the docustate sodium daily can minimize which of the following ?

(a) Nausea
(b) Constipation
(c) Drowsiness
(d) Headache

Answer 1

Taking docustate sodium daily can minimize constipation, which is a common side effect of morphine, a narcotic analgesic. Docustate sodium is a stool softener, and while other medications are used to manage nausea from narcotics, docustate specifically targets constipation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should instruct the client that taking docustate sodium daily can minimize the side effect of constipation. Morphine, an analgesic and narcotic, can cause constipation as a common side effect, especially with long-term use. Docustate sodium is a stool softener which helps to alleviate this discomfort.

Morphine provides pain relief, but it can also lead to physical dependence and tolerance, potentially requiring increased doses for the same analgesic effect. Therefore, while managing pain with narcotics like morphine, it is important to also use medications like docustate sodium to manage side effects. It is critical to understand that medications such as zofran and phenergan are more appropriate for controlling nausea, another possible side effect of narcotic use.