Nokea
A patient has recently moved from Vermont to Southern Florida. The patient presents to the clinic complaining of dizzy spells and weakness. While conducting the admission assessment, the patient tells the nurse that he have been on the same antihypertensive drug for 6 years and had stable blood pressures and no adverse effects. Since his move, he has been having problems and he feels that the drug is no longer effective. The clinic nurse knows that one possible reason for the change in the effectiveness of the drug could be what?
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 moves to a warmer climate, there is a chance that the patients blood pressure will drop too low, resulting in dizziness and feelings of weakness. Even mild dehydration could exacerbate these effects. Most antihypertensives are metabolized and excreted and do not accumulate in the body. Patients must be very compliant with their drug regimen 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.