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What important instructions should the health care professional give the patient who is taking the NSAID (COX-2 inhibitor) celecoxib (Celebrex)?
- Take with food, milk, or 8 oz of water to minimize gastrointestinal effects.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Report persistent gastric irritation and signs of bleeding.
- Report changes in urine output, weight gain, or signs of fluid retention, such as edema or bloating.
- Report chest pain or heaviness, shortness of breath, sudden and severe headache, numbness, weakness, visual disturbances, or confusion.
- Take low-dose aspirin once daily to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
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What important instructions should the health care professional give the patient who is taking the glucocorticoid drug prednisone (Deltasone)?
- Take the drug on an alternate-day schedule.
- Report increased stress because higher dosages are required at such times.
- Taper the dose before discontinuing it.
- Report polyphagia, polydipsia, and polyuria.
- Report muscle pain or weakness.
- Avoid taking NSAIDs.
- Take the drug with food or meals.
- Report indigestion or bloody vomitus as well as black, tarry stools.
- Report signs of infection, such as a sore throat.
- Report weight gain or edema (hypernatremia).
- Report weakness (hypokalemia).
- Understand that long-term therapy may cause some changes in fat distribution throughout the body.
- Take the drug on alternate days for long-term therapy.
- Perform weight-bearing exercise daily.
- Consume adequate calcium and vitamin D.
- Report blurred vision and loss of color acuity.
- Minimize exposure of eyes to sunlight.
- Obtain periodic eye examinations.
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What important instructions should the health care professional give the patient who is taking the NSAIDs (COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors) aspirin/acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)?
- Take with food, milk, or 8 oz of water to minimize gastrointestinal effects.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Report persistent gastric irritation and signs of bleeding.
- Report any unusual or prolonged bleeding.
- Report changes in urine output, weight gain, or signs of fluid retention, such as edema or bloating.
- Report ringing or buzzing in the ears, sweating, headache, and dizziness.
- Stop taking aspirin if these symptoms develop.
- Do not give aspirin or NSAIDs to a child or adolescent younger than 19 who has a viral infection, particularly chickenpox and influenza; use acetaminophen instead.
- Report chest pain or heaviness, shortness of breath, sudden and severe headache, numbness, weakness, visual disturbances, or confusion.
- Take low-dose aspirin once daily to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke if prescribed.
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What important instructions should the health care professional give the patient who is taking the drug acetaminophen (Tylenol)?
- Understand that the drug is available in many combination products as well as many formulations; read labels carefully to avoid overdose.
- Do not exceed 3 g a day for an adult patient.
- Report any abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, sweating, or diarrhea immediately.
- Check blood pressure regularly.
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What important instructions should the health care professional give the patient who is taking the opioid agonist-antagonist drugs butorphanol (Stadol) and pentazocine (Talwin)?
- Use the drug only when needed and short-term.
- Do not take prior to driving or activities requiring mental alertness.
- Sit or lie down if feeling lightheaded.
- Change positions gradually.
- Lie down when feeling nauseated.
- Do not use for anginal pain.
- Do not take opioids while taking butorphanol.
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What important instructions should the health care professional give the patient who is taking the opioid agonist drugs morphine and meperidine (Demerol)?
- Take the drug only when needed and short-term.
- Do not take prior to driving or activities requiring mental alertness.
- Sit or lie down if feeling lightheaded.
- Change positions gradually.
- Increase fluid and fiber intake.
- Increase activity/exercise.
- Take the drug with food or milk (oral forms).
- Sit or lie down if feeling lightheaded.
- Rise slowly from a reclining or sitting position.
- Report any inability to urinate or difficulty urinating.
- Cough regularly to clear secretions from the throat and chest.
- Take the drug only when needed and short-term.
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What important instructions should the health care professional give the patient who is taking the uricosuric drug allopurinol (Zyloprim)?
- Report fever, rash, abdominal pain, swelling, or low urine output immediately, and stop taking the drug.
- Take the drug with food.
- Avoid driving or activities requiring mental alertness if drowsy.
- Try over-the-counter analgesics as needed to relieve headache.
- Report bleeding, easy bruising, or sore throat.
- Suck on hard candy or chew gum to minimize unusual taste sensations.
- Report blurred vision and/or loss of color acuity.
- Minimize exposure of eyes to sunlight.
- Obtain periodic eye examinations.
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What important instructions should the health care professional give the patient who is taking the centrally acting nonopioid drug tramadol (Ultram)?
- Do not take prior to driving or activities requiring mental alertness.
- Sit or lie down if feeling lightheaded.
- Change positions gradually.
- Increase fluid and fiber intake.
- Take the drug with food or milk.
- Lie down when feeling nauseated.
- Take the drug only when needed and short-term.
- Report urinary retention.
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