Question

The patient tells the nurse that his doctor wants him to take a medication for his high cholesterol, but he doesn't know which one would be best. What is (are) the best response(s) by the nurse? Select all that apply.

1. "The best drugs to raise your high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are the fibric acid drugs."
2. "The statin drugs are good, but will cause a lot of flushing if you swallow them with warm fluids."
3. "The bile resins keep cholesterol from being absorbed, but have some side effects."
4. "The statin drugs inhibit the making of cholesterol and are considered the best choice."
5. "Fibric acid drugs will decrease triglycerides, but your low density lipoprotein (LDL) will still be high."

Answer 1

The nurse should recommend statin drugs for reducing overall cholesterol levels and fibric acid drugs for lowering triglycerides and raising HDL, but note that they may not have as much impact on LDL levels. Bile acid sequestrants should be considered for their effects on LDL, but potential side effects need to be discussed.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to the patient's question about medications for high cholesterol, the nurse could provide the following guidance:

• The statin drugs are considered one of the primary treatments for high cholesterol. They work as inhibitors of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which is responsible for cholesterol synthesis in the body. By doing this, statins help to reduce overall cholesterol levels.
• Fibric acid drugs are often used to reduce triglyceride levels and may also increase HDL (good cholesterol) levels. However, they might not be as effective in reducing LDL (bad cholesterol).
• Bile acid sequestrants are another class of drugs that prevent cholesterol from being absorbed, thus reducing LDL levels. They do have some side effects which patients need to consider.

It's important for the patient to discuss with their doctor about the best course of action for their specific case because all drugs can have side effects, and their effectiveness can vary between individuals.