Question

The home health nurse notes that the elderly patient doubled up on his pain medication, even though the prescribed dose was at a therapeutic level. The patient says, "If one pill is good, two pills are better." Which statement best describes the result of the patient's action?

Answer 1

Option 4

Step-by-step explanation:

complete question

The home health nurse notes that the elderly patient doubled up on his pain medication, even though the prescribed dose was at a therapeutic level. The patient says, If one pill is good, two pills are better. Which statement best describes the result of the patients action?

1. The patient develops tolerance and does not experience any difference.

2. The patient experiences more pain relief from the additional dose.

3. The patient develops tolerance and will need increased doses of the drug.

4. The patient exhibits side effects from the additional dose.

Solution -

The drug at its therapeutic level performs the best. It is the sufficient concentration of drug to produce desired result without causing any side effect. Dosage excess to that of therapeutic level will produce side effects not higher therapeutic benefits. Thus, the patient may have side effects. However, he/she may also develop tolerance but this is something which is of no importance at this point.

Hence, option 4 is correct