A21-year-old Asian female, with past medical history of exertional asthma, comes to your office complaining of mild low back pain. It started after her working out in the gym 3 days ago. The pain is 24 out of 10 in intensity, has no radiation, increases with bending or lying down for a long time, and improves with warm showers. You examine the patient, diagnose her with paravertebral muscle spasm, and give her prescriptions for cyclobenzaprine and naproxen to use as needed for pain and stiffness. You receive a call from your patient 2 hours later. She is having generalized itching, dizziness, and swelling of the tongue and lips. She is having difficulty breathing. She tells you that she took the first dose of the medication you prescribed about 30 minutes ago.
What should you do at this time?
- Advise patient to use her albuterol inhaler as she is having an asthma attack.
- Advise her to take another dose of naproxen and stop cyclobenzaprine for now.
- Assure her that this is a common side effect to cyclobenzaprine; she will get used to it as she takes the next dose.
- Ask her to return to your clinic for evaluation.
- Ask her to call 911 immediately.
Answer(s): E
Explanation:
This patient is exhibiting signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction, likely to one of the medications that she recently took. Angioedema is occurring (swelling of the lips and tongue). Her dyspnea may be a manifestation of laryngeal edema or of bronchospasm. She is at high risk for respiratory compromise and, therefore, of the options listed, having her activate the emergency medical system is the most appropriate. Calling 911 from your office would be another option. Of the interventions listed, epinephrine would provide the most benefit in correcting the underlying problem. The alpha- and betaadrenergic effects result in vasoconstriction, bronchial smooth-muscle relaxation, and reduction on vascular permeability. Oxygen may be required if the patient is hypoxic, IV fluids may be necessary for persistent hypotension and albuterol may benefit the treatment of bronchospasm, but epinephrine would most immediately address the multiple systemic effects of anaphylaxis.
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