NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

A client is taking acetaminophen and codeine for pain relief. Which of the following are characteristics of additive drug interactions?

1. Clients can achieve desired effects with the use of lower combined doses

2. Clients often experience no side effects when both drugs are used together

3. The combined effect of the drugs equals the sum of the effects of each drug taken alone

4. The combination frequently leads to drug dependency

The correct answer is: The combined effect of the drugs equals the sum of the effects of each drug taken alone

Additive drug interactions occur when the combined effect of two or more drugs is equal to the sum of the effects of each drug taken alone. This means that the drugs work together in a simple addition manner, intensifying each other's effects. Option A would not be characteristic of additive drug interactions, as the desired effects are achieved through the combined doses of the drugs. Option B is not correct because clients can experience side effects when both drugs are used together. Option D is also incorrect because drug dependency is not necessarily a characteristic of additive drug interactions.