A nurse is preparing to administer a metered dose inhaler (MDI) medication to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A) Discard the medication:
The safest action is to discard the medication. Medications past their expiration date may not be effective and could potentially be unsafe. Using expired medications can pose risks, and discarding them ensures that the client is not exposed to potentially compromised treatments.

B) Give the medication:
Administering expired medication is not appropriate as it could be ineffective or harmful. The expiration date indicates that the medication may no longer be guaranteed to work as intended or might have degraded, making it unsafe to give.

C) Return the medication to the pharmacy:
Returning expired medication to the pharmacy is not a standard practice. The medication should be disposed of according to facility protocols, and the pharmacy should be notified of the issue so they can take appropriate actions.

D) Notify the provider:
While notifying the provider is important if there are issues with medication availability or alternatives, the immediate action regarding the expired medication itself is to discard it. The provider can be informed as part of addressing the medication issue and determining the next steps.

A) Muscle pain:
Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used to treat cardiac dysrhythmias and hypertension. Muscle pain is not a common adverse effect associated with verapamil. Instead, side effects related to cardiovascular function are more pertinent.

B) Ototoxicity:
Ototoxicity, which refers to hearing damage or tinnitus, is not a known side effect of verapamil. This is more commonly associated with certain antibiotics or chemotherapy agents, not calcium channel blockers like verapamil.

C) Hypotension:
Hypotension is a significant concern with verapamil, as it can lower blood pressure due to its vasodilatory effects. Monitoring blood pressure is crucial when administering verapamil, especially during an IV bolus, to ensure it does not drop too low and lead to symptoms of dizziness or fainting.

D) Hyperthermia:
Hyperthermia, or elevated body temperature, is not typically associated with verapamil use. Verapamil's side effects are more focused on cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems, rather than temperature regulation.