Question

a nurse is speaking to a client who is taking sertraline and reports drinking grapefruit juice. the nurse explains that grapefruit juice inhibits an enzyme in the liver that is used to metabolize sertraline. the nurse should recognize the clients risk for which of the following? reduced medication absorption medication dependence altered medication distribution medication toxicity

Explanation:

Grapefruit juice inhibits liver enzymes (like CYP3A4) that metabolize drugs like sertraline. When enzyme - mediated metabolism is inhibited, drug levels in the body rise. Higher drug levels increase the risk of medication toxicity as the body cannot break down the drug at the normal rate. Reduced absorption would be due to issues in the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., antacids affecting absorption of some drugs). Medication dependence is related to long - term use and psychological/some physiological adaptations, not immediate enzyme inhibition. Altered distribution would be due to changes in protein binding (e.g., hypoalbuminemia) or body fluid compartments, not enzyme inhibition.

Answer:

Medication toxicity