A patient who has severe arthritis and who takes nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) daily develops a duodenal ulcer. The patient has tried a cyclooxygenase-2 selective NSAID in the past and states that it is not as effective as the current NSAID.
b. prescribe omeprazole (Prilosec). teach the patient about a bland diet. d. change the NSAID to a corticosteroid. Patients with NSAID-induced ulcer should discontinue the NSAID if possible and use an acid suppressant.
The NP tells the patient that antidiarrheal medications are: a. not curative and may prolong the illness. b. useful in cases of acute infection with elevated temperature. most beneficial when symptoms persist longer than 2 weeks. d. useful when other symptoms, such as hematochezia, develop.