Nokea
A 68-year-old patient who must take antihistamines for severe allergies is planning a vacation to Mexico. The nurse will encourage the patient to:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Antihistamines can decrease sweating by blocking cholinergic receptors, placing the patient at high risk for heat stroke. Avoiding the hottest part of the day will help prevent dehydration and heat prostration. Extreme restlessness could indicate Parkinson-like syndrome not usually associated with antihistamines. Excessive thirst is characteristic of hyperglycemia, and hallucinations are associated with drugs that affect neurologic functioning. Nurses should never tell patients to decrease or discontinue a drug unless the prescriber has instructed them to do so.