While providing care to a 68-year-old man taking Lopid (gemfibrozil), the nurse recognizes that which of the following assessments indicates the medication and treatment plan are effective?
A) The patient has lost 4 pounds this month.
B) The patient's HDL drops from 55 mg/dL to 49 mg/dL.
C) The patient's cholesterol drops from 265 mg/dL to 238 mg/dL.
D) The patient's LDL is 175 mg/dL.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lopid (gemfibrozil) is a medication used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the blood. Therefore, the most effective assessment indicating the medication and treatment plan are working is a decrease in cholesterol levels, as seen in choice C. The other options, weight loss (choice A) and a decrease in HDL levels (choice B), are not necessarily indicative of the effectiveness of the medication or treatment plan. The LDL level, as given in choice D, is just a baseline value and does not show the effectiveness of the medication or treatment plan.

While Providing Care to a 68-Year-Old Man Taking Lopid (Gemfibrozil)