A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has postherpetic neuralgia and a new prescription for gabapentin. Which of the following information should the nurse include?
A. "You should take this medication on an empty stomach."
B. "You should expect to experience swelling of your lower legs while taking this medication."
C. "You should avoid taking this medication with fruit juice."
D. "You should not take this medication within 2 hours of taking an antacid."
Answer (2)
The nurse should advise the patient to avoid taking gabapentin within 2 hours of antacids, as antacids can impair its absorption. Other considerations include that gabapentin does not have to be taken on an empty stomach, and swelling of the lower legs is not a typical side effect. Finally, there’s no need to avoid fruit juice when taking this medication. ;
The nurse should inform the client to avoid taking gabapentin within 2 hours of antacids, as this could impair absorption. Other important points include that gabapentin can be taken with or without food, and that swelling of the legs is not a common side effect. Fruit juice can be consumed without issue while taking gabapentin.
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