Final answer:
Loperamide can increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms in clients with heart disease; loop diuretics increase urination due to their action on the kidneys. Clients with symptoms of severe diarrhea and a history of heart disease and antibiotic use should seek medical attention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Loperamide is a medication commonly used to treat diarrhea by slowing down bowel movements. However, for a client with heart disease, a nurse should advise caution. One important side effect of loperamide, particularly at high doses, is the potential to cause serious cardiac events. This may include QT prolongation, which is an abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to sudden cardiac death. The patient's health history of heart disease places them at higher risk for such cardiac events when taking medications like loperamide. Further, since the client's symptoms started after being treated with antibiotics and involved blood in the stool, the client should be assessed for C. difficile infection, a potential complication from antibiotic use.
Loop diuretics are a separate class of medication that are frequently used to manage hypertension and other conditions associated with fluid overload, such as heart failure. They act on the ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the kidneys, inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium and chloride ions. This leads to increased urination as the body attempts to expel the excess fluid drawn out by the osmotic gradient.
Therefore, a nurse should educate the patient on the possible risks associated with loperamide use, particularly in those with heart conditions. Instead of recommending the continuation of loperamide, the client should seek medical attention, as their symptoms might be indicative of a more serious underlying condition.