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?

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.

Quinidine is an antiarrhythmic medication that can cause hypokalemia (low potassium levels) as an adverse effect. Potassium is an electrolyte that is important for the normal functioning of the heart and muscles.Hypokalemia can cause arrhythmias, muscle weakness, cramps, and fatigue.

Choice A is wrong because quinidine does not cause hypertension (high blood pressure).In fact, quinidine can lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and reducing the force of heart contractions.Normal blood pressure ranges are less than 120/80 mm Hg for systolic and diastolic pressures, respectively.

Choice B is wrong because quinidine does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels).Quinidine does not affect insulin secretion or glucose metabolism.Normal blood glucose ranges are 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L) before meals and less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) two hours after meals.

Choice D is wrong because quinidine does not cause hypernatremia (high sodium levels).Quinidine does not affect sodium balance or excretion. Sodium is another electrolyte that is important for fluid balance, nerve impulses, and muscle contractions.Hypernatremia can cause thirst, confusion, seizures, and coma.Normal sodium ranges are 135 to 145 mEq/L (135 to 145 mmol/L).