The client is 8 weeks pregnant and requires an antithyroid medication.
The nurse identifies what drug as the drug of choice for this client?

Octreotide is a synthetic analog of somatostatin, a hormone that inhibits the secretion of growth hormone, insulin, glucagon, and other hormones. Octreotide can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and flatulence. These side effects are more common and severe with the oral route than with the injectable route.

Choice B is wrong because tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is not a common or serious side effect of octreotide.

Choice C is wrong because alteration in consciousness is not a common or serious side effect of octreotide.

However, octreotide can affect blood glucose levels and cause hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, which can lead to confusion, dizziness, fainting, seizures, or coma in severe cases.

Choice D is wrong because changes in vision are not a common or serious side effect of octreotide.

However, octreotide can cause rare but serious eye problems such as blurred vision, double vision, eye pain, or blindness due to optic nerve damage or retinal detachment.

These eye problems require immediate medical attention.

Normal ranges for blood glucose are 70 to 100 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.6 mmol/L) for fasting and less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) for postprandial.

Oxygen cannot diffuse rapidly across the membrane to tissues in the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This damage can reduce the oxygen supply to the retina and lead to vision problems.

Choice A is wrong because cells in the eye can reproduce normally, but they may not function properly due to high blood sugar levels or lack of oxygen.

Choice B is wrong because diabetic retinopathy does not affect the production of aqueous humor, which is the fluid that fills the front part of the eye.

However, diabetes can cause another eye condition called glaucoma, which is caused by increased pressure from too much aqueous humor.

Choice C is wrong because diabetic retinopathy does not affect the nerve innervations throughout the eye.

However, diabetes can cause another eye condition called diabetic neuropathy, which is caused by damage to the nerves that control eye movement and pupil dilation.