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

Verapamil is a medication that belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and arrhythmias. Verapamil works by relaxing the blood vessels and slowing down the heart rate, which lowers blood pressure and reduces the workload of the heart. However, verapamil can also affect the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, causing them to contract less frequently and forcefully.This can lead to constipation, which is a common side effect of verapamil.

Choice A is wrong because verapamil does not cause hypertension, but rather lowers blood pressure.In fact, verapamil can sometimes cause hypotension, which is abnormally low blood pressure.

Choice B is wrong because verapamil does not cause hyperkalemia, which is a high level of potassium in the blood.Verapamil can actually lower potassium levels by increasing its excretion in the urine.Hyperkalemia can be caused by other medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), or potassium-sparing diuretics.

Choice C is wrong because verapamil does not cause hypoglycemia, which is a low level of glucose in the blood.Verapamil does not affect insulin secretion or glucose metabolism.Hypoglycemia can be caused by other medications, such as insulin or sulfonylureas, or by fasting, alcohol consumption, or exercise.

The normal ranges for blood pressure, potassium, and glucose are as follows:

• Blood pressure: less than 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) when fasting and less than 140/90 mm Hg two hours after eating for people without diabetes; less than 130/80 mm Hg for people with diabetes.

• Potassium: 3.6 to 5.2 mmol/L (millimoles per liter) or 3.6 to 5.2 mEq/L (milliequivalents per liter).

• Glucose: less than 100 mg/d

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.