What is important for the nurse to teach the patient about taking ketoconazole (Nizoral)?

Teaching patients about the administration of ketoconazole (Nizoral) is crucial for enhancing its efficacy and absorption. Taking ketoconazole with orange juice is beneficial due to the acidic environment that orange juice creates. The acidity of the juice helps increase the solubility of ketoconazole in the stomach, thereby improving its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.

This approach is particularly important because ketoconazole requires an acidic medium to dissolve properly. If it is taken with substances that neutralize stomach acid or with a high pH, such as certain antacids or alkaline beverages, its absorption may be significantly reduced, leading to suboptimal therapeutic effects.

In contrast, other options may not provide the same beneficial effects in terms of absorption. For instance, taking the medication with water does not offer the increased acidity necessary for optimal absorption. Additionally, taking it on an empty stomach could lead to poor absorption, as food typically aids the solubility of certain medications. While a high-fat meal can enhance the absorption of some medications, for ketoconazole, taking it with orange juice has shown to be the superior method due to the specific biochemical interaction and the resulting acidic environment that facilitates its absorption.