Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 79%
Simulated
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a patient who has hypertension and a new prescription for verapamil. The nurse should instruct the patient to avoid taking this medication with which of the following foods?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct answer is A: Grapefruit. Verapamil can interact with grapefruit juice, leading to increased levels of verapamil in the blood, potentially causing serious side effects such as low blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. Grapefruit contains compounds that inhibit the enzyme responsible for breaking down verapamil in the body, leading to higher concentrations of the medication. Spinach, broccoli, and carrots do not have this interaction with verapamil, so they are safe to consume.