Question

A 20 years old student come to the campus health center. Over the past, several days, he has developed nasal congestion, sneezing, and itchy and watery eyes. He had been participating in a service project in which they were cleaning up abandoned homes. The student says, “I often get this way when I’M exposed to dust. I wore a mask, but there really was a huge amount of dust flying around.” The patient has a prescription for fexofenadine, which has been effective but has not be taking it lately. The nurse practitioner instructs the patient to star taking his fexofenadine and recommends the use of oxymetazoline for his nasal congestion.

b. What information would be important for the nurse to address when teaching the patient about the drug?

Answer 1

OXYMETAZOLINE :

• Ask patient to report the doctors in case he has any signs or symptoms of difficulty in breathing, oedema over the face, hives.
• If the sympotms does not subsides abd seems to be worsening report to the nearest clinic.
• Explain the common side effects such as burning sensation in the nose.
• Excessive sneezing.
• Runny nose.
• Inform the doctor in case he is starting with any other drug as it can react with oxymetazoline.
• Advice to avoid sharing the medication.

FEXOFENADINE :

• Explain the medication its uses, indications, contraindications, side effects.
• This medication is not precribed or suitable for children advice not to administer it on their own without the prescription.
• Explain that this medication should not taken when concentration or focus is needed. The patient may feel sleepy.
• But now a days anti histamine such a allegra is available which does not cause sleepy.
• Advice to report to the clinic when the symptoms are not subsiding or worsening.