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A nurse is teaching a client who has tuberculosis about taking rifampin. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

A: "Expect this medication to give your urine a greenish tinge."
B: "Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication."
C: "Take this medication with food."
D: "Take a stool softener for the duration of therapy with this medication."

User Kenloy
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Final answer:

The nurse should instruct the client not to drink alcohol while taking rifampin because both substances can cause liver damage and their combined effects might significantly increase the risk of hepatotoxicity. It is also worth noting that rifampin can cause red-orange discoloration of body fluids, and it is best taken on an empty stomach unless it upsets the patient's stomach.

Step-by-step explanation:

When educating a client who is taking rifampin for tuberculosis (TB), it is important for the nurse to include several key instructions to ensure the medication's effectiveness and to manage potential side effects. The correct instruction to include would be: "Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication." This is crucial because both rifampin and alcohol can cause liver damage, and their combined effects could significantly increase the risk of hepatotoxicity. Although rifampin can cause urine, sweat, and tears to turn a red-orange color, not greenish, this wasn't an option provided. Taking rifampin with food can delay its absorption, so it's actually recommended to take it on an empty stomach; however, if the patient experiences stomach upset, they may take it with food to improve tolerance. There isn't a specific recommendation to take a stool softener for the duration of therapy with rifampin unless the patient experiences constipation as a side effect of the medication or another concurrent treatment.

User Ovidiu Nistor
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