Pharm Specific Neurodegenerative Disorders
When instructing patients and family members about rivastigmine, the nurse should teach that which adverse effect is considered life threatening and is a priority?
Suicidal ideation
Which intervention related to family members who are preparing to bring their mother with Alzheimer's disease home from the hospital would be the highest priority for the nurse?
Instruct the family members to remove obstacles from the patient's path to prevent falls and injuries if she should wander
Which statement best explains the therapeutic effect of rivastigmine?
Improves memory
Which statement about rivastigmine is correct?
It is contraindicated in patients with liver disease.
What statement is correct about the pharmacokinetics of topical rivastigmine?
Onset of action is 0.5 to 1 hour
The nurse is providing education to a patient taking carbidopa-levodopa. Which statement by the nurse correctly explains why the patient should take this medication with low-protein foods?
"High-protein foods interfere with transportation of this medication to the central nervous system."
What correct statement should the nurse include in patient teaching related to carbidopa-levodopa and symptoms of dyskinesia?
"It may take weeks or months before your symptoms are controlled."
A patient who is currently taking an antihypertensive drug for renal artery stenosis has also been prescribed carbidopa-levodopa for the beginning stages of Parkinson's disease. The patient states, "I'm applying for a job where I would be operating a backhoe." What teaching should the nurse provide for the patient?
"These medications together may increase your risk for hypotension, so you will need to use caution when operating heavy machinery."
Which instruction ismost important for the nurse to include when teaching a patient who has been prescribed sustained-released carbidopa-levodopa?
"Watch for adverse effects such as dizziness and drowsiness."
A nurse administers oral carbidopa-levodopa to a patient who has tremors from Parkinson's disease. What duration of action does the nurse expect to see for this medication?
5 hours
A nurse is providing a teaching plan for a patient who is taking carbidopa-levodopa and selegiline, an MAOI. Which foods should the nurse tell the patient to avoid?
Aged cheeses, red wines, and bananas
The nurse is preparing to administer rivastigmine to a patient who has been admitted with worsening symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The order states to administer 8 mg bid, and the pharmacy sends four 2-mg tablets for the am dose. What should the nurse do first?
Call the health care provider for an order change
Which statement about the mechanism of action of carbidopa is true?
Carbidopa has no therapeutic effect on its own.
Which statement about carbidopa-levodopa is correct?
Carbidopa-levodopa should not be stopped abruptly.
Which nursing diagnosis is highest priority for a nurse who is caring for a patient taking carbidopa-levodopa for Parkinson's disease?
Impaired physical mobility related to dizziness
A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of an Alzheimer patient's drug regimen. Which assessment finding by the nurse would indicate that the medicine is effective?
Improvement in mental status
A patient has been taking carbidopa-levodopa for many years. During assessment, the nurse finds that the patient presents with hand tremors, drooling, and a mask-like facial expression. What action by the health care provider should the nurse anticipate?
Increase in medication dosage
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a history of COPD and a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The nurse knows that theophylline and rivastigmine have what effect on the patient when given together?
Increase the risk for theophylline toxicity
Which is a correct therapeutic goal for treatment of Parkinson's Disease?
To improve the patient's ability to carry out activities of daily living