If a patient experiences nausea with ketoconazole, what is the best advice for the nurse to provide?

The best advice for a patient experiencing nausea with ketoconazole is to take the medication with food. This recommendation is based on the pharmacokinetics of ketoconazole, as food can help enhance its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Ketoconazole is known to cause gastrointestinal upset in some patients, and ingesting it with food can mitigate this side effect by reducing gastric irritation and ensuring adequate drug absorption.

Taking the medication on an empty stomach or with water alone may not provide the necessary buffer to prevent nausea and might exacerbate the gastrointestinal discomfort. While antacids can help with heartburn or excess acidity, they can also interfere with the absorption of ketoconazole, which is not advisable in this situation. Therefore, taking the medication with food is the most effective strategy to alleviate nausea and optimize therapeutic efficacy.