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A patient, talking to a home health nurse about urinary incontinence, gives the nurse a list of the current medications she is taking. What medication should the nurse recognize as possibly contributing to the patient's urinary incontinence?

a. Methylcellulose (Citrucel)
b. Diazepam (Valium)
c. Simvastatin (Zocor)
d. Digoxin (Lanoxin)"

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Diazepam (Valium) among the listed medications could contribute to urinary incontinence due to its muscle relaxant properties, which can affect the bladder. Other medications listed do not commonly cause incontinence, and diuretics are known for increasing urination by acting on the kidneys' loop of Henle.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the listed medications that the home health nurse should recognize as possibly contributing to the patient's urinary incontinence is Diazepam (Valium). Diazepam is a benzodiazepine that can cause muscle relaxation, including relaxation of the bladder muscles, which can lead to incontinence. On the other hand, Methylcellulose (Citrucel) is a fiber supplement used to treat constipation, Simvastatin (Zocor) is a cholesterol-lowering medication, and Digoxin (Lanoxin) is used to treat heart conditions. None of these is known to commonly cause urinary incontinence.It's also worth noting that diuretics are commonly associated with an increased frequency of urination. They work by affecting the loop of Henle in the kidneys, inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-), which leads to increased urine production. However, none of the medications listed are diuretics. When considering diuretics as a cause for urinary incontinence, it is important to note that they are typically used to treat conditions such as hypertension, not hypotension. They would not be classified as oligurics, but rather as diuretics.

User Tomek Szpakowicz
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