A Patient Who Has Recently Started Therapy with a Statin

question 11

Multiple Choice

A patient who has recently started therapy with a statin drug asks the nurse how long it will take for an effect on his serum cholesterol to be seen.Which is the nurse's best response to the patient's question?

• A)"Blood levels return to normal within a week of beginning therapy."
• B)"It takes several weeks to see a change in cholesterol levels."
• C)"It takes at least 6 months to see a change in cholesterol levels."
• D)"You will need to take this medication for almost a year to see significant results."

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Definitions:

Acids

Electrolytes that release hydrogen ions in water.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin; typically used in reference to parts of the body.

Distal

Anatomical term meaning farther away from a point of attachment or farther away from the trunk of the body.

Diffusion

The movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.