You are giving a patient who has hepatitis B an oral dose of the antiviral drug adefovir (Hepsera). What assessment should you perform before giving this drug to the patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hepatitis B can cause jaundice, which manifests as yellowing of the skin and sclera. Adefovir is a drug used to treat hepatitis B, but it can also cause liver damage. Therefore, it is important to assess for liver function before giving the drug. Yellowing of the skin and sclera is a sign of liver dysfunction, indicating that the patient may need a lower dose of the drug.

You Are Giving a Patient Who Has Hepatitis B an Oral