A patient has been taking levothyroxine for several years and reports that "for the past 2 weeks, the drug doesn't seem to work as well as before." What will the nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Not all levothyroxine preparations have the same drug bioavailability; therefore, if a patient is experiencing differing effects, the pharmacist may have switched brands. Asking a patient about a recent refill may help to explain why the drug has different effects. An elevated temperature and tachycardia would be signs of toxicity, not of a decrease in effectiveness. Calcium supplements and food would only interfere with absorption and further reduce the drug's effectiveness.

A Patient Has Been Taking Levothyroxine for Several Years and Reports