Comprehensive Nursing Pharmacology Q 13
Which of the following is least likely to influence the potential for a client to comply with lithium therapy after discharge?
A. The impact of lithium on the client’s energy level and lifestyle.
B. The need for consistent blood level monitoring.
C. The potential side effects of lithium.
D. What do the client’s friends think of his need to take medication.
Correct Answer: D. What do the client’s friends think of his need to take medication.
While the client’s social network can influence the client in terms of compliance, the influence is typically secondary to that of the other factors listed. Lithium acts on a person’s central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Doctors don’t know exactly how lithium works to stabilize a person’s mood, but it is thought to help strengthen nerve cell connections in brain regions that are involved in regulating mood, thinking, and behavior.
Option A: The impact of lithium on the client’s energy level and lifestyle are great determinants to compliance. as your body gets used to lithium, these side effects should wear off. If these symptoms do not get better within a week or two, your doctor may either reduce your dose or increase it more slowly. If that does not work you may need to switch to a different medicine.
Option B: The frequent blood level monitoring required is difficult for clients to follow for a long period of time. Check with the doctor right away if there is anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. The risk may be higher if one also takes certain other medicines that affect serotonin levels in the body.
Option C: Potential side effects such as fine tremor, drowsiness, diarrhea, polyuria, thirst, weight gain, and fatigue can be disturbing to the client. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as the body adjusts to the medicine. Also, the health care professional may be able to tell about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.