Question

Mr. emmet, age 65, is admitted to the hospital with cough, fever, chill, malaise, and headache. he is diagnosed with influenza. examination reveals shortness of breath at rest, course crackles throughout the lung fields, and cough productive of thick yellow sputum. the physician has prescribed guaifenesin to help the patient mobilize the secretions in the lungs. what would be an important nursing intervention to enhance the guaifenesin drug therapy?

Answer 1

To enhance the guaifenesin drug therapy the patient should be encouraged to take one glass of water with every dose of guaifenesin. This is because, one of the side effects of the drug is that it can form kidney stone. But if a high level of hydration is maintained the possibility of forming kidney stone will be highly reduced and water intake will also increase the pH of the patient's urine.