Final answer:
The prescribed medication Gantrisin (sulfasoxazole) should be administered with meals or a snack to ensure effectiveness and minimize side effects. Dosage and administration are important factors in drug treatment, and the patient's liver and kidney function can influence drug metabolism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physician has prescribed Gantrisin (sulfasoxazole) 1gm in divided doses for a client with a urinary tract infection. The question of when to administer the medication is essential for ensuring that the drug is both effective and minimizes the risk of side effects. For many antibiotics, including sulfasoxazole, it is recommended to administer the medication with meals or a snack to help avoid gastrointestinal upset, enhance absorption, and reduce the likelihood of side effects. Therefore, when a nurse is faced with this prescription, the appropriate action would be to administer the medication with meals or a snack.
It is essential to consider that dosage and route of administration are critical for achieving optimum therapeutic drug levels. Factors such as the patient's kidney and liver function may influence how the drug is metabolized and cleared from the body. It is crucial to follow the prescribing physician's directions to minimize the risk of toxicity while ensuring the clinical effectiveness of the medication.