A client prescribed Lipitor one month ago calls the triage nurse at the clinic complaining of muscle pain and weakness in his legs. Which statement reflects the correct drug-specific teaching the nurse should provide to this client?A. Increase consumption of potassium-rich foods since low potassium can cause muscle spasmsB. Have serum electrolytes checked at the next scheduled appointment to assess hyponatremia, a cause of crampingC. Make an appointment to see the healthcare provider, because muscle pain may be an indication of a serious side effectD. Be sure to consume a low-cholesterol diet while taking the drug to enhance the effectiveness of the drug.

Myopathy, which can be deduce from the leg pain and weakness, is a major, and dangerous life-threatening, complication of Lipitor, and there is need for it to be assessed swiftly by the healthcare provider (C).

Even though the electrolyte imbalances take for instance, as pointed in (A or B) can lead to muscle spasms in majority situation, which can't be the probable reason of leg pain in the client being treated with Lipitor, and assessment by the healthcare provider need to be done swiftly without wasting time.

A low-cholesterol diet is proposed for individuals who are being treated with Lipitor as the drug is employed in reducing total cholesterol (D), but diet can not be in relation to the leg pain symptom.

eyitbay eyitbay · Answer 2 · 2020-03-10T09:53:22+01:00

Answer:

C. Make an appointment to see the healthcare provider, because muscle pain may be an indication of a serious side effect

Explanation:

This is a class of lipid-lowering drugs called (sating) taken to reduce the blood levels of cholesterol, low density lipoproteins, and other forms of lipids( (while raising the levels of good high density lipoprotein)) that put individuals at risk of cardiovascular diseases. The dosage can be taken at anytime of the day, but at the same time.

The major side effects of Liptor on skeletal muscles are :

Myopathy in which the the muscles cells failed to function properly leading to stiffness, cramps, of muscles

And

Rhabdomyolysis; in which the patient experiences general weakness,pains in the legs as experienced by the client in the question. It was due to the breakdown of the damaged(non functioning ) muscles fibres.

Basically,Lipitor inhibits certain proteins in muscles cells required for growth, it also inhibits activities of Co-enzyme 10, thus blocking access of these cells to energy,

These combined effects may be responsible for the symptoms experienced by the client in question and therefore malfunctioning of the muscles.