Week 13: Chapter 19 Blood Lipids

Question 1

Which group of antihyperlipidemic drugs works best to lower triglycerides?

Answer 1

Fibrates

Question 2

Which drug is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor?

Answer 2

Ezetimibe

Question 3

When should you teach a pt to take a fibrate drug?

Answer 3

30 min before meals

Question 4

What are the most common S/E of nicotinic acid drugs?

Answer 4

Itching and nasal inflammation

Question 5

An older adult pt who is prescribed atorvastatin (Lipitor) tells you that she is experiencing more muscle aches and states, “Im just getting old” What should you do?

Answer 5

Hold the drug and notify the the prescriber immediately

Question 6

A pt asks you how emeztimbie (Zetia) lowers blood lipid levels. What is your best response?

Answer 6

They decrease the absorption of cholesterol by the body

Question 7

A pt is taking a statin drug has elevated liver function tests. What is your best first action?

Answer 7

Hold the drug and notify the prescriber immediately

Question 8

Which question would you be sure to ask a pt before giving a bile acid sequestrant drug?

Answer 8

Have you experienced any constipation?

Question 9

A pts LDL level is very high. Which drug and drug dosage would you teach the pt is best to correct the very high LDL level?

Answer 9

simvastatin (Zocor) 5 mg PO every evening

Question 10

An older adult prescribed atorvastatin (Lipitor) for familial hyperlipidemia tells you that he is having leg cramps. What is your best action?

Answer 10

Hold the drug and notify the prescriber immediately

Question 11

The out pt prescribed niacin 1 g three times a day experiences flushing and hot flashes when taking this drug. What is your best action?

Answer 11

Instruct the pt to take aspirin 325 mg 15 - 60 min before taking the drug

Question 12

What action should you take for a pt prescribed niacin (Niacor) who needs dental surgery?

Answer 12

Notify the dental surgeon that the pt is taking niacin on a daily basis

Question 13

You are providing teaching to a pt who has been prescribed nicotinic acid (Niacor). What information should you be sure to include in the teaching plan?

Answer 13

Nicotinic acid doses are usually started low and gradually increased

Question 14

What do you teach a woman prescribed niacin (Niacor) who is planning to become pregnant and breastfeed her baby?

Answer 14

This drug should not be taken while breastfeeding

Question 15

A patient in the clinic was just given a prescription for a lipid-lowering drug by the prescriber and was told not to drink grapefruit juice. Grapefruit juice should be avoided with which class of lipid-lowering drugs?

Answer 15

Fibrates

Question 16

Which type of cholesterol-lowering drug may be prescribed with a cholesterol absorption inhibitor?

Answer 16

Statin

Question 17

Which statement made by a patient about when he or she takes prescribed colestipol (Colestid) granules indicates a need for further teaching?

Answer 17

“I take it along with breakfast and my morning medications.”

Question 18

A patient taking a nicotinic acid agent reports episodes of flushing and hot flashes to the nurse. What action does the nurse tell the patient to do to reduce these symptoms? (select all that apply)

Answer 18

1. Take an aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) 30 minutes before taking nicotinic acid.
2. Take nicotinic acid during or after meals.

Question 19

Which point must be included in a teaching plan for a diabetic patient who has been prescribed nicotinic acid to lower cholesterol?

Answer 19

“The dosage of your blood glucose control drug may need to be increased.”

Question 20

A pediatric nurse is caring for a child prescribed a lipid-lowering medication. What lipid-lowering medication can cause intestinal obstructions in children?

Answer 20

Cholestyramine (Questran)

Question 21

The nurse is performing discharge teaching for a patient who is going to take a statin medication. What symptom, indicating an adverse effect, is most important for the nurse to tell the patient and should be reported immediately to the prescriber?

Answer 21

Brown urine

Brown urine may be one symptom of rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) which is an adverse effect of taking statins.

Question 22

A patient has been taking statin drugs for several months. What adverse effects should the patient report to their prescriber immediately? (select all that apply)

Answer 22

1. General muscle soreness
2. Yellowing of the skin
3. Light gray or green stools

Question 23

The nurse is reviewing different classes of lipid-lowering drug. What class works directly on fats in the intestines?

Answer 23

Bile acid sequestrants

Question 24

Which type of lipid-lowering drug inhibits the production of cholesterol and triglycerides by the body?

Answer 24

Statins

Question 25

What are the signs of rhabdomyolysis, an adverse effect of statin drugs? (select all that apply)

Answer 25

1. Muscle soreness
2. Brown-colored urine
3. Vomiting

Question 26

The nurse is giving a cholesterol absorption inhibitor to a patient who is also taking a statin. Which cholesterol absorption inhibitor can be taken with statins, but at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after bile acid sequestrants?

Answer 26

Ezetimbe (Zetia)

Question 27

A patient prescribed a lipid-lowering drug is being discharged. Which important information is essential for the nurse to teach this patient?

Answer 27

Make positive lifestyle changes.

Question 28

The nurse is performing an admission assessment on a patient with multiple health problems, including chronic hyperlipidemia. What health problems can be a result of chronic hyperlipidemia? (select all that apply)

Answer 28

Atherosclerosis
Coronary artery disease
Hypertension
Stroke

Question 29

A patient who has been diagnosed with high cholesterol asks the nurse “besides the foods we eat, from where does our body get cholesterol”? What response by the nurse is correct?

Answer 29

Liver

Question 30

A patient who has recently become pregnant asks why she must stop taking her prescribed statin drugs. What is your best response?

Answer 30

“Fats are necessary in the development of the fetus.”

Question 31

A patient with hyperlipidemia asks the nurse what caused it. What causative factors would the nurse tell the patient? (select all that apply)

Answer 31

Poor diet

Genetics

Question 32

A patient is being discharged with a prescription for a lipid-lowering drug. What class of lipid-lowering drugs may require a daily vitamin supplement to be taken along with them?

Answer 32

Bile acid sequestrants

Question 33

The nurse is discharging a patient with a prescription for an immediate-release form of niacin (Niacor). What instruction is most important to teach this patient?

Answer 33

“Notify your surgeon or dentist that you are taking Niacor before any surgery or dental work.”