A client is reporting that the oral medication she was prescribed for

A client is reporting that the oral medication she was prescribed for her hypothyroidism does not seem to be helping. The client goes on to report that she has been experiencing tension-related headaches and constipation.

She has been self-medicating with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and bulk laxa-tives. Which of the following assessment questions is most likely to provide information regard-ing this client’s concern regarding her thyroid problem?
1. “How long have you taken Synthroid?”
2. “What other medications are you currently on?”
3. “How long have you been taking a bulk laxative?”
4. “Have you developed any other gastrointestinal symptoms?”

ANSWER

ANS: 3
Laxatives often influence the efficacy of other medications by altering the transit time (i.e., the time the medication remains in the GI tract and is available for absorption). The remaining op-tions would have little bearing on the effectiveness of the hypothyroid medication unless the medication has not been taken long enough to reach therapeutic levels.