The nurse reinforces medication teaching to a client prescribed metronidazole. Which client statement indicates a need for further education?

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Metronidazole is an antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial, parasitic, and protozoal infections. Nurses educating clients about metronidazole should ensure that the client is aware of drug interactions and side effects to watch for and report. The client should be instructed to abstain completely from consuming food, drinks, or products containing alcohol during, and for 3 days after, therapy. The combination of alcohol and metronidazole may cause clients to experience facial flushing, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping (Option B). (Options A and C) Metronidazole commonly causes a harmless but unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth and darkening of urine (eg, brown, rust-colored). (Option D) Although it is rare, metronidazole may cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a life-threatening complication characterized by necrosis and sloughing of the skin and mucous membranes. Clients should be educated to immediately report signs of SJS (eg, rash, skin peeling). Educational objective: Clients prescribed metronidazole are instructed to abstain from using alcohol during, and for 3 days after, therapy, as it may cause flushing, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping. Metronidazole may cause a harmless metallic taste and darkened urine. Clients should immediately report any new rashes, as Stevens-Johnson syndrome can occur.

The Nurse Reinforces Medication Teaching to a Client Prescribed Metronidazole