A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed lidocaine for the treatment of arrhythmias. Which of the following should the nurse monitor for as an adverse effect of this medication?

Amiodarone is a medication used to treat irregular heartbeats, but it can cause various adverse effects, such as:

• Photosensitivity, which means increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and risk of sunburn.

This can be prevented by wearing protective clothing and sunscreen when outdoors.

• Pulmonary toxicity, which means damage to the lungs that can cause inflammation, scarring, or difficulty breathing.

This can be fatal in some cases and requires regular monitoring of chest X-rays and pulmonary function tests.

• Thyroid dysfunction, which means abnormal levels of thyroid hormones that can affect metabolism, energy, and mood.

This can be either hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) or hyperthyroidism (high thyroid hormone) and requires regular monitoring of thyroid function tests.

Choice A and B are wrong because amiodarone can causebradycardia(slow heartbeat) andhypotension(low blood pressure), not the opposite.

These effects can be serious and require close monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure.

This is because lidocaine is a local anesthetic that can cause various side effects, some of which may be serious and require emergency medical help.These include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, twitching, tremors, seizure, a light-headed feeling, slow heart rate, weak pulse, weak or shallow breathing, and sudden feeling of warmth with muscle stiffness and pain.Dizziness is a common sign of central nervous system (CNS) excitation and/or depression caused by lidocaine.

Choice B is wrong because “My mouth feels dry” is wrong because dry mouth is not a typical side effect of lidocaine.Dry mouth can be caused by dehydration, medications, salivary gland problems, or other medical conditions.

Choice C is wrong because “My urine is dark” is wrong because dark urine is not a common side effect of lidocaine.Dark urine can be a sign of dehydration, liver problems, blood in the urine, or other health issues.Normal urine color ranges from clear to pale yellow.

Choice D is wrong because “I have a headache” is wrong because headache is not a usual side effect of lidocaine.Headache can be caused by many factors, such as stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, or other medical conditions.

Some additional sentences are:

assistantIf you are prescribed lidocaine for the treatment of arrhythmias, you should monitor for any signs of adverse effects and seek medical help if they occur.

You should also follow the dosage instructions carefully and avoid taking more than the recommended amount.Lidocaine can interact with some other medications, so you should inform your doctor about any other drugs you are taking.