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The nurse is providing education to the client with sinusitis who has asked about taking over-the-counter pseudoephedrine. Which of the following statements is appropriate?

"If you take pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine together, you will get more relief."

"Continue the medication until your congestion resolves."

"Using these kinds of medications may make you jittery and restless."

"It is safe to chew over the counter medications if you have trouble swallowing pills."

User Ozmank
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Final answer:

"Using these kinds of medications may make you jittery and restless." is the correct statement when discussing the use of over-the-counter pseudoephedrine for sinusitis. It is important not to combine pseudoephedrine with phenylephrine and to follow dosage instructions carefully. One should consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement for the client with sinusitis considering taking over-the-counter pseudoephedrine is: "Using these kinds of medications may make you jittery and restless." Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant found in various preparations, often combined with other active ingredients like antihistamines, guaifenesin, or analgesics for symptom relief. While pseudoephedrine can help relieve congestion, it also has stimulant effects that may lead to restlessness or jitteriness.

Phenylephrine is another decongestant but is less effective orally since it is partially broken down in the digestive tract. Both are sympathomimetic drugs, meaning they can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to side effects such as increased heart rate or nervousness. It is not advised to take pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine together, as they work similarly and taking both will not increase the relief but may heighten the risk of adverse effects.

It is recommended to follow the dosage instructions on the medication label or to consult a healthcare provider for specific advice on duration of use. Moreover, over-the-counter medications should not be chewed unless the packaging states they are chewable, as this can affect how the medication is released and absorbed in the body.

User Tomgalpin
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