The nurse is caring for a patient who will begin taking omeprazole (Prevacid) 20 mg per day for 4 to 8 weeks to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease esophagitis. The nurse learns that the patient takes digoxin. The nurse will contact the provider for orders to:

A. decrease the dose of omeprazole: Reducing the omeprazole dose would not prevent the interaction between omeprazole and digoxin, because even standard doses can raise digoxin absorption. Changing the omeprazole dose may also reduce its therapeutic effect on GERD. B. increase the dose of digoxin: Increasing digoxin would heighten the risk of toxicity because omeprazole can elevate serum digoxin levels. Higher digoxin concentrations can rapidly lead to dangerous effects such as bradyarrhythmias, nausea, and visual disturbances. C. monitor for digoxin toxicity.: Omeprazole increases the bioavailability of digoxin by altering gastric pH, which raises the risk of toxic serum levels. Close monitoring allows early identification of symptoms such as anorexia, yellow vision, fatigue, and arrhythmias. Detecting these changes promptly helps prevent severe cardiac complications. D. increase the omeprazole to 60 mg per day: Tripling the omeprazole dose provides no therapeutic benefit for routine GERD treatment and heightens the likelihood of medication interactions. Higher doses can further influence digoxin absorption, increasing toxicity risk.