Question text An older adult patient has confusion, memory loss,...

Question text

An older adult patient has confusion, memory loss, and disorientation in familiar surroundings. The patient has been taking donepezil [Aricept] 10 mg once daily for 6 months. The patient's symptoms have begun to worsen, and the patient's spouse asks if the medication dose can be increased. What will the nurse practitioner tell the spouse?

Select one:

a. The dose can be increased, because the patient has been taking the drug for longer than 3 months.

b. The patient must take the drug for longer than 1 year before the dose can be increased.

c. The dose can be increased to twice daily dosing instead of once daily dosing.

d. The increase in symptoms is the result of hepatotoxicity from the medication's side effects.