Question

A patient who is taking oral contraceptives develops an upper respiratory infection for which a tetracycline is ordered. Which instruction would be most important for the nurse to include?

a) Taking the tetracycline 2 hours after taking the oral contraceptive
b) Using an alternative means of contraception while taking the tetracycline
c) Monitoring for increased adverse effects of the oral contraceptive
d) Reducing the oral contraceptive to every other day

Answer 1

The most important instruction for a patient taking oral contraceptives and prescribed a tetracycline is to use an alternative means of contraception during the antibiotic treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient who is taking oral contraceptives develops an upper respiratory infection for which a tetracycline is prescribed, it is imperative to include the instruction of using an alternative means of contraception while taking the antibiotic. This is because antibiotics, such as tetracycline, can potentially reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. The nurse should stress the importance of this information to prevent unintended pregnancy during the course of antibiotic treatment.