Question

a nurse is obtaining a clients health history and discovers that the client takes loratadine, an over - the - counter medication. the nurse should identify that which of the following is correct regarding over - the - counter medications? (select all that apply.)
they do not require the supervision of a nurse.
they can interact with other medications.
they should be included in the clients medication history assessment.
they are less effective than prescription medications.
they do not cause toxicity.

Explanation:

Over - the - counter (OTC) medications are available without a prescription, so they do not need nurse supervision. Like all medications, OTCs can interact with other drugs. And since they are part of a client's drug intake, they must be in the medication history. OTCs are not necessarily less effective than prescriptions (e.g., some pain relievers). Also, OTCs can cause toxicity (e.g., acetaminophen overdose).

Answer:

• They do not require the supervision of a nurse.
• They can interact with other medications.
• They should be included in the client's medication history assessment.