A patient who has been receiving norepinephrine (Levophed)at a rate of 10 mcg/min will have the drug discontinued.How should the nurse plan to manage this intervention?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine (Levophed) is a potent vasoconstrictor that is given to increase blood pressure in critically ill patients. Abrupt discontinuation of the drug can cause rebound hypotension and cardiac arrest, which are life-threatening conditions. Therefore, the drug should be tapered off gradually, typically by decreasing the infusion rate by 1-2 mcg/min every 5-30 minutes while monitoring the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac rhythm. Option D is the best choice as it recommends decreasing the rate by 1 mcg/min every 30 minutes while closely monitoring the patient's response. Options A and B are incorrect because they do not address the need for gradual tapering of the drug, which is critical to prevent adverse effects. Option C is incorrect because it recommends decreasing the rate by 50% (i.e., 10 to 5 mcg/min) before discontinuing the infusion, which is likely to cause abrupt changes in the patient's hemodynamics.

A Patient Who Has Been Receiving Norepinephrine (Levophed)at a Rate