Page 1792 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

medications.

2. Side and adverse effects

a. Nausea
b. Diarrhea or constipation
c. Abdominal pain or cramps
d. Flatulence
e. Dizziness
f. Headache
g. Blurred vision
h. Rash
i. Pruritus
j. Elevated liver enzyme levels
k. Muscle cramps and fatigue

3. Interventions

a. Monitor serum liver enzyme levels.
b. Instruct the client to have an annual eye
examination, because the medications
can cause cataract formation.
c. If lovastatin is not effective in lowering
the lipid level after 3 months, it should
be discontinued.

Instruct the client who is taking an

antilipemic medication to report any unexplained
muscular pain to the PHCP immediately.
D. Other antilipemic medications (Box 53-20)
1. Description
a. Gemfibrozil should not be taken with
anticoagulants, because they compete
for protein sites; if the client is taking
an anticoagulant, the anticoagulant
dose should be reduced during
antilipemic therapy and the INR
should be monitored closely.
b. Do not administer gemfibrozil with
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors,
because it increases the risk for
myositis, myalgias, and
rhabdomyolysis.
c. Fish oil supplements have been
associated with a decreased risk for
cardiovascular heart disease; plant
stanol and sterol esters and cholestin
have been associated with reducing

1792