Nokea
A nurse is caring for a patient who has recently moved from Vermont to south Florida. The patient has been on the same antihypertensive drug for 6 years and has had stable blood pressures and no side effects. Since her move, however, she reports having 'dizzy spells and weakness' and feels that the drug is no longer effective. The nurse knows that one possible reason for the change in the effectiveness of the drug could be which of the following?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Antihypertensive drugs work to decrease the blood pressure. When a patient goes to a climate that is much warmer than usual, blood vessels dilate and the blood pressure falls. If a patient is taking an antihypertensive drug and enters a warmer climate, there is a chance that the patient's blood pressure will drop too low, resulting in dizziness and feelings of weakness. Most antihypertensives are metabolized and excreted and do not accumulate in the body. Patients must be very compliant with their drug regimen while on vacation. After several years on an antihypertensive drug, the effects of that drug are known; therefore, the placebo effect should not be an issue.