Case Studies
(LO 16-4) You are caring for a patient taking colchicine 0.5 mg orally daily. The patient asks you when the colchicine will make the pain go away. How should you respond? What is the teaching you should reinforce with your patient? The patient also wants to know if any foods should be avoided and why.
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The pain produces a dramatic relief of pain within 24 to 48 hours. Drink large amounts of fluids to wash away the uric acid and crystals. Drink eight glasses of water a day. Weight reduction Avoidance of alcohol Because uric is the major end product of catabolism of purines, a low-purine diet should be followed. Avoid high-purine foods such as sardines, meat soups, chicken, salmon, crab, veal, bacon, pork, beef, and ham. Moderate – purine vegetables are asparagus, shell beans, lentils, mushrooms, peas, and spinach.