Drugs for Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A nurse should establish which outcomes on the care plan for a patient taking oral terbutaline? A. Absence of tachycardia B. No reports of chest pain C. Less irritation of gum tissue D. Decrease in bronchospasm E. No jaundice or dark urine

A, B, D Terbutaline is an oral beta2 agonist. It promotes bronchodilation through activation of beta2 receptors in the lung, which relieves bronchospasm. It also stimulates the beta receptors of the heart and can result in tachycardia and chest pain if dosing is excessive. Irritated mucosal tissue of the gums, jaundice, and dark urine are not adverse effects of the medication.

Which instruction should be included in the teaching for a patient for whom fluticasone propionate [Flovent] MDI has been ordered? A. "Gargle after using your inhaler." B. "Take the medication immediately at the onset of an attack." C. "Take your albuterol first, followed by the Flovent 5 minutes later." D. "Make sure you monitor your fingerstick blood glucose level each morning."

A. "Gargle after using your inhaler." Patients should be taught to gargle after using inhaled glucocorticoids, such as fluticasone propionate, to minimize dysphonia and oropharyngeal candidiasis. The medication is not used to abort an acute attack. Short-acting bronchodilators, such as albuterol, should be administered 5 minutes before inhaled glucocorticoids to enhance delivery to the bronchial tree. Oral glucocorticoids pose a risk of hyperglycemia.

The nurse is caring for several patients who receive a beta agonist inhalation treatment for asthma. After treatments are administered, it would be of greatest priority to reassess the patient who also has a history of which condition? A. Heart failure (HF) B. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) C. Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) D. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

A. Heart failure (HF)

Which are advantages of a dry-powder inhaler (DPI) over a metered-dose inhaler (MDI)? A. More of the drug is delivered to the lungs and less to the oropharynx. B. Use of a spacer is not necessary. C. Less propellant is needed to deliver the medication. D. Less hand-lung coordination is required. E. DPIs pose no environmental risk.

A. More of the drug is delivered to the lungs and less to the oropharynx. B. Use of a spacer is not necessary. D. Less hand-lung coordination is required. E. DPIs pose no environmental risk. DPIs deliver more drug to the lungs (20% of the total released, compared to 10% for MDIs). Spacers are not necessary with DPIs; they are recommended for use with MDIs to increase the delivery of drug to the lungs rather than the oropharyngeal mucosa. DPIs do not require the hand-lung coordination needed with MDIs. DPIs present no environmental hazard, because no propellant is required for delivery.

A patient with severe, chronic COPD uses an inhaled LABA/glucocorticoid but continues to have frequent exacerbations of symptoms. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss: a. adding roflumilast [Daliresp] once daily. b. changing to oral theophylline twice daily. c. prescribing oral steroids once daily. d. Using an ipratropium/albuterol combination twice daily.

ANS: A For patients with chronic, severe COPD, the risk of exacerbations may be reduced with roflumilast. Theophylline is used only when other bronchodilators are not effective. Oral steroids are not indicated for this use. Ipratropium is used to treat bronchospasm in COPD.

A patient with stable COPD is prescribed a bronchodilator medication. Which type of bronchodilator is preferred for this patient? a. A long-acting inhaled beta2 agonist b. An oral beta2 agonist c. A short-acting beta2 agonist d. An intravenous methylxanthine

ANS: A LABAs are preferred over SABAs for COPD. Oral beta2 agonists are not first-line therapy. Although theophylline, a methylxanthine, was once standard therapy in COPD, it is no longer recommended. It is used only if beta2 agonists are not available.

A 7-year-old child with asthma uses a daily inhaled glucocorticoid and an albuterol MDI as needed. The provider has added montelukast [Singulair] to the child's regimen. Which statement by the child's parent indicates understanding of this medication? a. "I may notice mood changes in my child." b. "I should give this medication twice daily." c. "I will give my child one 4-mg chewable tablet daily." d. "This drug can alleviate symptoms during an acute attack."

ANS: A Montelukast is given as an adjunct to inhaled glucocorticoids to help prevent inflammation. Some patients have reported mood changes when taking this drug, so parents should be warned of this effect. The medication is given once daily. The dose for a 7-year-old child is 5 mg daily. The drug does not treat symptoms of an acute attack.

A patient has just received a prescription for fluticasone/salmeterol [Advair Diskus]. What will the nurse include as part of the teaching for this patient about the use of this device? a. "You do not need good hand-lung coordination to use this device." b. "You will begin to inhale before activating the device." c. "You will need to use a spacer to help control the medication." d. "You will take 2 inhalations twice daily."

ANS: A The Advair Diskus is a dry powder inhaler and is activated by inhalation; therefore, hand-lung coordination is not required. There is no need for a spacer. Patients who use the Diskus take 1 inhalation twice daily.

A patient who uses an inhaled glucocorticoid for chronic asthma calls the nurse to report hoarseness. What will the nurse do? a. Ask whether the patient is rinsing the mouth after each dose. b. Request an order for an antifungal medication. c. Suggest that the patient be tested for a bronchial infection. d. Tell the patient to discontinue use of the glucocorticoid.

ANS: A The most common side effects of inhaled glucocorticoids are oropharyngeal candidiasis and dysphonia. To minimize these, patients should be advised to gargle after each administration. Antifungal medications are used after a fungal infection has been diagnosed. Hoarseness is not a sign of a bronchial infection. There is no need to discontinue the glucocorticoid.

Which drugs are used to treat COPD? (Select all that apply.) a. Anticholinergic medications b. Glucocorticoids c. Leukotriene modifiers d. Long-acting beta2 agonists e. Monoclonal antibodies

ANS: A, B, D Anticholinergic drugs, glucocorticoids, and LABAs are used to treat COPD. Leukotriene modifiers and monoclonal antibodies are used only to treat asthma.

What are the results of using glucocorticoid drugs to treat asthma? (Select all that apply.) a. Reduced bronchial hyperreactivity b. Reduced edema of the airway c. Reduced number of bronchial beta2 receptors d. Increased responsiveness to beta2-adrenergic agonists e. Increased synthesis of inflammatory mediators

ANS: A, B, D Glucocorticoids act by reducing bronchial hyperreactivity and airway edema and increasing airway responsiveness to beta2-adrenergic agonists. They do not reduce the number of beta2-adrenergic agonist receptors. They help reduce the synthesis of inflammatory mediators.

A patient who takes oral theophylline [Theochron] twice daily for chronic stable asthma develops an infection and will take ciprofloxacin. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss: a. changing to a different antibiotic. b. reducing the theophylline dose. c. giving theophylline once daily. d. switching from theophylline to a LABA.

ANS: B Fluoroquinolone antibiotics increase theophylline levels, so the dose of theophylline may need to be reduced to prevent theophylline toxicity. Changing antibiotics, giving the theophylline once daily, and changing to a LABA are not indicated.

A patient with stable COPD receives prescriptions for an inhaled glucocorticoid and an inhaled beta2-adrenergic agonist. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of this medication regimen? a. "I should use the glucocorticoid as needed when symptoms flare." b. "I will need to use the beta2-adrenergic agonist drug daily." c. "The beta2-adrenergic agonist suppresses the synthesis of inflammatory mediators." d. "The glucocorticoid is used as prophylaxis to prevent exacerbations."

ANS: D Inhaled glucocorticoids are used daily to prevent acute attacks. They are not used PRN. The beta2-adrenergic agonist drugs should not be used daily; they are used to treat symptoms as needed. They do not suppress mediators of inflammation.

A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the different formulations of beta2-adrenergic agonist medications. Which statement by a student indicates understanding of the teaching? a. "Beta2-adrenergic agonists provide quick relief via any formulation." b. "Long-acting beta2 agonists may be used alone to prevent attacks." c. "Short-acting beta2 agonists are usually given by nebulizer." d. "Oral beta2 agonists are not useful for short-term treatment."

ANS: D Oral beta2 agonists are used only for long-term control. All formulations vary; long-acting beta2 agonists (LABAs) and oral preparations are used for long-term control, whereas short-acting beta2 agonists (SABAs) are useful for acute episodes. LABAs are used in conjunction with inhaled glucocorticoids to prevent attacks. SABAs may be given by MDI or nebulizer and usually are given by MDI.

A patient with COPD is prescribed tiotropium [Spiriva]. After the initial dose, the patient reports only mild relief within 30 minutes. What will the nurse tell the patient? a. "You may have another dose in 4 hours." b. "You may need to take two inhalations instead of one." c. "You should have peak effects in about 6 hours." d. "You should see improved effects within the next week."

ANS: D Tiotropium shows therapeutic effects in about 30 minutes, with improved bronchodilation occurring with subsequent doses, up to 8 days. The medication is given once daily, with inhalation of one capsule. Peak effects occur in 3 hours.

A patient with asthma comes to a clinic for treatment of an asthma exacerbation. The patient's medication history lists an inhaled glucocorticoid, montelukast [Singulair], and a SABA as needed via MDI. The nurse assesses the patient and notes a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute, a heart rate of 96 beats per minute, and an oxygen saturation of 95%. The nurse auscultates mild expiratory wheezes and equal breath sounds bilaterally. What will the nurse do? a. Contact the provider to request a systemic glucocorticoid. b. Contact the provider to suggest using a long-acting beta2 agonist. c. Evaluate the need for teaching about MDI use. d. Question the patient about how much albuterol has been used.

ANS: D To determine the next course of action, it is important to assess the drugs given before these symptoms were observed. Patients who continue to wheeze after using a SABA need systemic glucocorticoids and nebulized albuterol. If a SABA has not been used, that will be the first intervention. LABAs are not used for exacerbations. If a patient reports using a SABA without good results, evaluating the MDI technique may be warranted.

Which statement should the nurse include in the teaching for a patient who is to be started on zileuton [Zyflo]? A. "Use your zileuton [Zyflo] inhaler every 12 hours." B. "Have your blood drawn once a month for the next 3 months so that your liver function can be checked." C. "Take the zileuton [Zyflo] 2 hours before eating breakfast each day." D. "Take an extra dose of zileuton [Zyflo] if you have an asthmatic attack."

B. "Have your blood drawn once a month for the next 3 months so that your liver function can be checked." Zileuton can injure the liver, as evidenced by increased plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Therefore, ALT should be monitored once a month for 3 months, then every 2 to 3 months for the remainder of the first year, and periodically thereafter. Zileuton is an oral, not an inhaled, medication that is rapidly absorbed with or without food. The timing of administration with regard to meals is insignificant. Zileuton is used for asthma prophylaxis and cannot be used to abort an attack.

A nurse is teaching a patient about montelukast [Singulair]. Which statement by the patient would indicate that the nurse's teaching was effective? A. "I'll take a dose as soon as I feel short of breath and start to cough." B. "While taking this medicine, I may be able to reduce my steroid medication." C. "This is the priority medication for preventing exercise-induced asthma symptoms." D. "If I have nosebleeds or excessive bruising, I'll stop the medication immediately."

B. "While taking this medicine, I may be able to reduce my steroid medication." Montelukast is an antileukotriene agent. Combining montelukast with an inhaled glucocorticoid medication can improve asthma symptoms and thus may allow a reduction in the glucocorticoid dosage. The effects of montelukast develop slowly, so it cannot be used as a quick-relief agent. Short-acting beta2 agonists are preferred for exercise-induced asthma. Montelukast does not affect coagulation, so bleeding and bruising do not occur.

The nurse would question the prescriber if which drug regimen was ordered for an asthmatic patient? select all that apply A. Albuterol inhaler, two puffs before exercise, not exceeding eight puffs in 24hours for a 14 year old patient. B. Albuterol (AccuNeb) followed by budesonide suspension (Pulmicort Respules) via ultrasonic nebulizer for a 6 year old patient. C. Budesonide suspension (Pulmicort Respules) followed by albuterol (AccuNeb) via jet nebulizer with a mask for a 4 year old patient. D. Salmeterol (Serevent), 2 puffs every 12 hours for a 20 year old patient. E. Salmeterol (Serevent Diskus), one inhalation and budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler) every 12 hours for 40 year old patient.

B. Albuterol (AccuNeb) followed by budesonide suspension (Pulmicort Respules) via ultrasonic nebulizer for a 6 year old patient. C. Budesonide suspension (Pulmicort Respules) followed by albuterol (AccuNeb) via jet nebulizer with a mask for a 4 year old patient. D. Salmeterol (Serevent), 2 puffs every 12 hours for a 20 year old patient.

A patient who takes cromolyn for exercise-induced bronchospasm should follow which approach for maximum therapeutic effectiveness? A. It should be used infrequently because of systemic adverse effects. B. One 10-mg tablet should be taken at least 2 hours before exercising. C. It should be administered by inhalation 15 minutes before anticipated exertion. D. It should be used as a quick-relief agent if exercise triggers asthma symptoms.

C. It should be administered by inhalation 15 minutes before anticipated exertion. Cromolyn suppresses inflammation through inhibition of histamine release. It must be administered at least 15 minutes before exertion to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. It is administered by inhalation only. It is not a bronchodilator and cannot abort an ongoing attack. It is one of the safest antiasthma medications and has no systemic adverse effects.

A 42 year old asthmatic patient who is prescribed budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler) and formoterol (Foradil Aerolizer), 2 puffs every 12 hours, is admitted for a surgery. Which information would be of greatest priority for the nurse to share with the anesthesiologist? A. This patient experiences an asthma attack whenever exposed to tobacco smoke. B. The patient has degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) of the knees. C. The patient uses albuterol (Proventil) MDI, two puffs every 4hours as needed. D. The patient was recently changed from long term oral methylprednisolone to inhaled beclomethasone

The patient was recently changed from long term oral methylprednisolone to inhaled beclomethasone