Medication and Hydration

(THEN and Now for Chapter 23: Toxic with a Timer)

Your body is set up as two fluid compartments. Molecules and ions move across the membranes between these two compartments by diffusion or active transport. Diffusion moves from a high concentration to a low concentration. This requires a solvent for the solutes, in this case medications.

That solvent is water. That magical, universal solvent that makes all life possible. To move medications takes water. Cells need to have water inside them and around them to work properly. Drinks like soft drinks (and alcohol) actually pull water out of the system because they are hypertonic. So not any fluid will do.

If you or your patient does not like to drink water, then splash in some juice for flavor and color(not red). You may require the patient to drink a glass of water before a glass of a favorite drink.

Think…