A client is taking an antacid for treatment of a peptic ulcer. Which of the following statements best indicates that the client understands how to correctly take the antacid?
A. “I should take my antacid before I take my other medications.”
B. “I need to decrease my intake of fluids so that I don’t dilute the effects of my antacid.”
C. “My antacid will be most effective if I take it whenever I experience stomach pains.”
D. “It is best for me to take my antacid 1 to 3 hours after meals.”
Correct Answer: D. “It is best for me to take my antacid 1 to 3 hours after meals.”
Antacids are most effective if taken 1 to 3 hours after meals and at bedtime. When an antacid is taken on an empty stomach, the duration of the drug’s action is greatly decreased. Taking antacids 1 to 3 hours after a meal lengthens the duration of action, thus increasing the therapeutic action of the drug.
Option A: Antacids should be administered about 2 hours after other medications to decrease the chance of drug interactions. Antacids are available as over-the-counter medications, meaning that patients do not require a prescription to obtain them. This situation results in the improper use of these medications with little to no relief of symptoms.
Option B: It is not necessary to decrease fluid intake when taking antacids. The dose for antacids depends upon the age of the patient, the purpose of administration (neutralization of acid or off-label use), and the presence of other comorbidities like renal or hepatic impairment.
Option C: Antacids are a combination of various compounds with various salts of calcium, magnesium, and aluminum as the active ingredients. The antacids act by neutralizing the acid in the stomach and by inhibiting pepsin, which is a proteolytic enzyme. Each of these cationic salts has a characteristic pharmacological property that determines its clinical use.
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