Reference no: EM133272169
Question - Elena is a 32 year old female who was admitted to the ER due to right upper abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting and "color changes.". After completing initial work-up and therapy, she is stable at this time.. As the admitting nurse, you are now completing the list of admission questions which includes. medical/surgical history and medication list consolidation. Elena is unsure of the names of all of her medications but knows she is on a medication for "high cholesterol". She mentions that this runs in the family and. she typically takes this medication at night. She does state that other long term medications include lisinopril 10mg, albuterol "2 puffs" as needed, a baby aspirin daily and "sometimes Tylenol". She is also taking cyclobenzaprine for a recent back injury from work, .although she mentions it "hasn't been helping".
1. Looking .at the medications. listed above, what additional conditions/diseases would you .anticipate that Elena may have?
2. What .additional questions. you would like to ask Elena to help clarify her medication list? How would you do/say .this to get the most accurate information?
After asking additional questions, you find out that Elena has been taking 2 "extra strength .Tylenols" every 4 hours. during the day to help control her back pain. She mentions that yesterday is when the right side pain started. and she initially thought it was constipation and took an "over-the counter milk medicine" to help. When this did not help with the. new pain, Elena said she took "two left-over hydrocodone tablets" last night. Eventually, Elena explains the .pain became intolerable and came with nausea, vomiting and a "yucky skin color", which is what brought her in concerned.
3. How many mg of acetaminophen is typically found in a .single hydrocodone tablet? If you add the total amount of acetaminophen in the. last 24 hours for Elena, what do .you get? What are your concerns with this amount of acetaminophen?
4. What organ damage is likely causing Elena's symptoms? Are there .any other medications that she is taking that could have also contributed to this organ damage?
5. What is the name of the pharmaceutical class for the other medication found in the "hydrocodone tablet"? What are your concerns about Elena having "leftover hydrocodone tablets"? With .the current opioid epidemic, what sort of education would you provide her about proper disposal of these medications?