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 do not need a nurse's supervision as they are available without a prescription.
• OTC medications can interact with other drugs (prescription or OTC). For example, some OTC anti - histamines like loratadine can interact with certain antidepressants.
• OTC medications should be part of a client's medication history assessment because they can affect overall health and treatment plans.
• OTC medications are not necessarily less effective than prescription medications. For instance, some OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen can be very effective for mild to moderate pain.
• OTC medications can cause toxicity. For example, excessive use of acetaminophen (an OTC pain reliever) can cause liver toxicity.

Answer:

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