Question

urse is obtaining a clients health history and discovers that the client takes loratadine, an over - the - counter medication. the nurse should ntify 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:

1. "They do not require the supervision of a nurse": Over - the - counter (OTC) medications are available without a prescription and can be self - administered, so they don't need nurse supervision.
2. "They can interact with other medications": OTC medications, like prescription drugs, can have drug - drug interactions. For example, taking an OTC anti - histamine (like loratadine) with other central nervous system depressants can cause additive effects.
3. "They should be included in the client’s medication history assessment": To have a complete picture of a client's medication use and potential interactions, OTC medications must be included in the medication history as they can impact the client's health and response to treatment.
4. "They are less effective than prescription medications": This is incorrect. OTC medications can be just as effective as prescription medications for their intended uses (e.g., OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen can be very effective for mild to moderate pain, similar to some prescription analgesics in appropriate cases).
5. "They do not cause toxicity": This is incorrect. OTC medications can cause toxicity if taken in excessive amounts or inappropriately (e.g., excessive acetaminophen intake can cause liver toxicity).

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.