A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about orthostatic hypotension. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

A) Take this medication with food:
Captopril is an ACE inhibitor, known to work best on an empty stomach. Food can reduce its absorption, impacting its effectiveness. Thus, while clients can take captopril with or without food, it's generally recommended to take it on an empty stomach for optimal results.

B) Monitor for a cough:
Captopril, an ACE inhibitor, commonly induces a persistent, dry cough due to the accumulation of bradykinin. This side effect can be bothersome and may necessitate discontinuation of the medication. Therefore, patients should be vigilant for the onset of a cough and promptly report it to their healthcare provider.

C) Avoid bananas:
Although captopril can occasionally lead to hyperkalemia, advising patients to avoid bananas specifically may not be necessary. While bananas are potassium-rich, restricting them alone might not significantly impact potassium levels. However, patients should be educated on monitoring potassium intake and informed of potential dietary modifications if hyperkalemia occurs.

D) Hold medication for heart rate less than 100/min:
Captopril is not known to directly affect heart rate. This instruction may be more applicable to medications like beta-blockers, which can lower heart rate as part of their mechanism of action. Therefore, holding captopril for heart rates below 100/min may not be clinically indicated.

A) STAT administration of atropine:
This is the correct answer. Atropine is a cholinergic antagonist that can increase heart rate by blocking the action of acetylcholine on cardiac muscarinic receptors. In cases of severe bradycardia, especially if associated with symptoms such as dizziness, syncope, or hypotension, atropine is often administered to increase heart rate and improve cardiac output. The dose of atropine and frequency of administration depend on the severity of bradycardia and the clinical response.

B) Administration of activated charcoal:
Activated charcoal is used in cases of overdose or poisoning to absorb ingested toxins and prevent their absorption into the bloodstream. However, in this scenario, where the primary concern is bradycardia resulting from cholinesterase inhibitor (donepezil) toxicity, activated charcoal would not be effective in reversing the bradycardic effects of the medication.

C) Hemodialysis:
Hemodialysis is a renal replacement therapy used to remove toxins and waste products from the blood in individuals with kidney failure. While hemodialysis may be indicated in cases of severe drug overdose or poisoning to enhance toxin elimination, it is not typically used as a first-line intervention for bradycardia associated with cholinesterase inhibitor toxicity.

D) Intravenous administration of pseudoephedrine:
Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic drug that acts as a vasoconstrictor and can increase heart rate and blood pressure. While it may be used to treat bradycardia in some cases, such as severe symptomatic bradycardia unresponsive to atropine, it is not the first-line treatment for cholinesterase inhibitor toxicity-induced bradycardia. Atropine is preferred due to its direct antagonism of muscarinic receptors in the heart.