Question

When providing education regarding the use of proton pump inhibitors, which statement will the nurse include?

a. "Take the medication along with the first meal of the day."
b. "Take the medication on an empty stomach, 30 to 60 minutes before eating."
c. "Take the medication when you have symptoms of heartburn."
d. "Take the medication at bedtime with a snack."

Answer 1

The correct statement to include when educating about the use of proton pump inhibitors is to take the medication on an empty stomach, 30 to 60 minutes before eating, as it maximizes the drug's effectiveness.

Step-by-step explanation:

When providing education regarding the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the correct guidance to include in patient teaching is: "Take the medication on an empty stomach, 30 to 60 minutes before eating." This statement is accurate because PPIs are most effective when taken before a meal, as they need to be absorbed into the bloodstream to block the hydrogen potassium ATPase enzyme system, which is primarily active and producing stomach acid when food is consumed.

Other options such as taking PPIs with a meal, when experiencing heartburn symptoms, or at bedtime with a snack, are less effective. PPIs, such as omeprazole, are used not only for treating symptoms of GERD and heartburn but also for conditions where the stomach produces too much acid, like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.