Final answer:
A 50-year-old man with a history of alcoholism is most likely to experience alterations in drug metabolism because alcohol can induce or inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzyme system and liver damage can impair drug metabolism. Other factors that influence drug metabolism include age, gender, genetic characteristics, and interactions with certain foods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse would most expect to assess for an alteration in drug metabolism in a 50-year-old man with a current history of alcoholism. Chronic alcohol use can induce the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, specifically enzymes like CYP2E1, potentially increasing the metabolism of certain medications. Conversely, acute alcohol consumption can inhibit the same system, decreasing drug metabolism. The presence of liver damage due to alcoholism could also impair metabolism because the liver plays a crucial role in breaking down medications. This alteration in metabolism can lead to either subtherapeutic or toxic levels of medications in the patient's body.
Age, gender, genetic characteristics, and food can all influence the pharmacokinetics of a drug. For example, elderly patients generally have slower metabolism due to physiological changes that come with ageing, potentially requiring dosage adjustments. Genetic polymorphisms in metabolic enzymes can lead to variations in drug efficacy and safety. Certain foods can interact with drug-metabolizing enzymes, altering the rate of drug metabolism.
Overall, it's important to monitor patients who are at risk for altered drug metabolism, such as those with a history of alcoholism, to ensure that they are receiving the correct medication dosages and to avoid adverse drug reactions.