NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

Which type of medication is most likely to carry a risk with a malnourished client with low serum albumin?

1. Fat-soluble drugs

2. Highly protein-bound drugs

3. Water-soluble drugs

4. Drugs requiring hepatic metabolism

The correct answer is: Fat-soluble drugs

Malnourished clients with low serum albumin levels are at risk for altered drug metabolism and distribution. Fat-soluble drugs are more likely to have higher levels of distribution into fatty tissues and can accumulate in malnourished individuals due to decreased muscle mass and reduced lean body mass. This accumulation can lead to increased drug toxicity in malnourished patients. Water-soluble drugs, on the other hand, have less potential for accumulation in fat stores and are easier to eliminate from the body. Highly protein-bound drugs can also pose a risk since malnutrition can lead to low levels of serum proteins available for drug binding, potentially causing increased levels of free active drug in the bloodstream. Drugs that require hepatic metabolism may be less of a concern in malnourished individuals unless there is significant liver dysfunction present.