Patient Counseling and Education Flashcards

A patient prescribed an oral suspension antibiotic that requires refrigeration should be counseled to do what?

Answer: Shake well before each dose and refrigerate as directed

Reconstituted suspensions often need refrigeration and shaking to ensure an even, accurate dose.

Which counseling point is most important for a patient starting digoxin?

Answer: Report nausea, vomiting, or visual disturbances as possible toxicity

Nausea, vomiting, and yellow-green vision changes can signal digoxin toxicity.

A patient using a new insulin pen should be counseled to do what before injecting a dose?

Answer: Prime the pen to remove air and confirm flow

Priming clears air and ensures accurate dose delivery from the pen.

Which is appropriate counseling for a patient prescribed sumatriptan for migraines?

Answer: Take at the onset of a migraine; do not exceed recommended doses

Triptans are used acutely at migraine onset with dosing limits to avoid serotonin and cardiovascular risks.

A patient starting allopurinol for gout should be counseled that it does what?

Answer: Lowers uric acid over time and may initially trigger flares

Allopurinol is a urate-lowering maintenance therapy that can precipitate flares early on.

Which counseling point is correct for a patient using a topical nitroglycerin or other transdermal patch with a nitrate-free interval?

Answer: Remove the patch for a daily nitrate-free period to prevent tolerance

A daily nitrate-free interval helps prevent the development of nitrate tolerance.

A patient prescribed oral iron supplements should be counseled to expect which common effect?

Answer: Dark or black stools and possible constipation

Oral iron commonly darkens the stool and may cause constipation.