Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Mood Disorders Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Mood Disorders related questions and content

The nurse is caring for a middle-aged client prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Which side effect of medication therapy leads to the most common cause of noncompliance?

  • A. Hypertension
  • B. Dizziness
  • C. Hallucinations
  • D. Sexual dysfunction
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, the nurse must instruct on the most common side effect, which is sexual dysfunction. Unfortunately, sexual dysfunction (reduced desire for sex, erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction, and the inability to orgasm) is a frequent and undesirable side effect that leads to noncompliance in medication regimen. The other side effects are not associated with use of SSRIs.