A patient who has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) receives a prescription for a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication. What will the nurse include when teaching the patient about this drug?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

PPIs can increase the risk of community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia in the first few days of use and patients should be taught to report symptoms to their provider. The FDA has concluded that there is no increased risk of gastric cancer associated with PPIs. PPIs are often used long-term to treat GERD, since the risk of relapse is greater than 80%. There is a risk of hypomagnesemia, not hypermagnesemia with long-term use.

A Patient Who Has Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Receives a Prescription