Question

The physician has prescribed Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) for a client with pulmonary fibrosis. The nurse should tell the client to A. Drink 10-12 glasses of water a day while taking the medication B. Take the medication with grapefruit juice to make it more palatable C. Avoid the use of acetaminophen while taking the medication D. Take the medication with meals or with a snack

Short answer

Answer: The nurse should advise the client to drink 10-12 glasses of water a day while taking Cytoxan.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the medication

Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) is an immunosuppressive drug used to treat various autoimmune diseases, like pulmonary fibrosis. It is essential to follow the right set of precautions and instructions when taking the medication to avoid any side effects or complications.

Analyze and eliminate the incorrect options

B) Taking the medication with grapefruit juice is not recommended, as grapefruit juice may interact with certain medications and cause complications. C) Avoiding the use of acetaminophen while taking Cytoxan is not a specific recommendation for this medication. D) Taking the medication with meals or a snack is not necessarily a bad practice. However, this is a general recommendation for many medications and not a specific one for Cytoxan.

Identify the correct option

A) Drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day while taking Cytoxan is the correct option. A primary side effect of Cytoxan is its ability to cause irritation to the bladder lining and increase the risk of bladder infection. By increasing fluid intake, the client will help flush the medication through their system and reduce the risk of bladder complications.

Conclusion

The nurse should advise the client to drink 10-12 glasses of water a day while taking Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) to minimize the risk of bladder complications. Answer: A