A patient who has been prescribed timolol (Timoptic)for the last month reports that his asthma is worse.What is your best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Timolol is a nonspecific beta blocker that can have systemic effects.It can cause bronchoconstriction and can make heart failure worse with backing of fluid into the lungs.The first action is to determine whether the patient needs immediate attention for either bronchoconstriction or possible heart failure.This is done by assessing breath sounds with a stethoscope and checking the pulse for rate,strength,and regularity.If a pulse oximeter is available,it should be used to assess the patient's degree of oxygen saturation.The results of this assessment along with the patient's report are then provided to the prescriber.It is likely that the class of drugs used to control this patient's glaucoma will need to be changed.

A Patient Who Has Been Prescribed Timolol (Timoptic)for the Last