Question

The patient is prescribed metronidazole (Flagyl) for adjunct treatment for a duodenal ulcer. When teaching about this medication, the nurse would include:

"This medication should be taken only until you begin to feel better."
"This medication should be taken on an empty stomach to increase absorption."
"While taking this medication, you do not have to be concerned about being in the sun."
"While taking this medication, alcoholic beverages and products containing alcohol should be avoided."

Answer 1

Metronidazole (Flagyl) should not be taken with alcohol to avoid adverse reactions, should be taken for the full prescribed course, and might increase sensitivity to the sun. It is used, often in combination with other drugs, for treating H. pylori-induced peptic ulcers.

Step-by-step explanation:

When teaching a patient about taking metronidazole (Flagyl) as an adjunct treatment for a duodenal ulcer, the nurse should emphasize that alcoholic beverages and products containing alcohol should be avoided during and for at least 48 hours after completing treatment. This precaution is essential because metronidazole can interact with alcohol to produce a disulfiram-like reaction, which may include nausea, vomiting, flushing, tachycardia, and shortness of breath. The medication should be taken for the full prescribed duration, even if the patient begins feeling better, to ensure the infection is fully treated and to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. It is not necessary to take metronidazole on an empty stomach for absorption, and the patient should be cautious about sun exposure because antibiotics can make the skin more sensitive to the sun. Metronidazole is effective against H. pylori infections, often as part of a triple or quadruple therapy regimen for peptic ulcers, which may include other antibiotics and acid-reducing agents.