Question

The nurse is taking a health history of a adult man who is taking atorvastatin (Lipitor). He states he takes the medication every morning at breakfast with grapefruit juice, toast and coffee. He stated that he has begun an exercise program to loose weight and also has cut down on his smoking. What teaching should the nurse perform related to the safe use of this drug?

Select one:
a. Take the atorvastatin (Lipitor) at bedtime and avoid taking it with grapefruit juice.
b. It is best not to exercise heavily while on atorvastatin (Lipitor) to prevent muscle breakdown.
c. Atorvastatin (Lipitor) should not be taken with caffeine or nicotine.
d. Smoking is contraindicated while taking atorvastatin (Lipitor) and he should stop smoking or stop the drug.

Answer 1

The nurse should instruct the patient to avoid grapefruit juice with atorvastatin, take the drug at bedtime, and consider stopping smoking to lower cardiovascular risks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should inform the adult man taking atorvastatin (Lipitor) that he should not consume grapefruit juice while on this medication. Grapefruit juice can increase the levels of atorvastatin in the blood, potentially leading to serious side effects. The nurse should advise that atorvastatin is usually taken at bedtime as the body synthesizes cholesterol at night. There is no specific interaction between atorvastatin and caffeine or nicotine; however, smoking can increase cardiovascular risks, and it is generally advisable for patients to quit smoking while taking statins to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease.