Question

The nurse is teaching a patient and the patient's family about lithium therapy. Which instructions will the nurse include? Select all that apply.

a. Restrict the sodium in your diet.
b. Take lithium on an empty stomach.
c. Take lithium with meals to avoid an upset stomach.
d. Lithium is a mood stabilizer that helps prevent relapse.
e. Maintain a consistent fluid intake of 1,500-3,000 mL/day.
f. You should stop taking lithium if you have excessive diarrhea, vomiting, or sweating.

Answer 1

The nurse's lithium therapy instructions include maintaining consistent sodium and fluid levels, taking lithium with meals, understanding lithium's role as a mood stabilizer, and knowing when to seek medical help for toxicity signs. correct answer is c). Take lithium with meals to avoid an upset stomach.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct instructions for a patient and family regarding lithium therapy include maintaining a consistent sodium intake, taking lithium with meals to avoid an upset stomach, acknowledging that lithium is a mood stabilizer that helps prevent relapses, and maintaining a consistent fluid intake of 1,500-3,000 mL/day. Additionally, the patient should stop taking lithium and seek medical attention if experiencing excessive diarrhea, vomiting, or sweating as these may indicate lithium toxicity.

• Maintain a consistent sodium intake: Lithium balance is dependent on sodium, so drastically changing sodium intake can affect lithium levels.
• Take lithium with meals: To minimize gastrointestinal upset, lithium should be taken with meals.
• Lithium as a mood stabilizer: Patients should be informed about the preventive benefits of lithium for mood stabilization.
• Consistent fluid intake: Fluid balance is essential in managing lithium therapy, with a target intake of 1,500-3,000 mL/day being recommended.
• Patients should be aware of the symptoms of toxicity -- diarrhea, vomiting, or sweating -- that warrant stopping lithium and seeking medical advice.