Question: A nurse has provided education for a patient newly diagnosed with hypertension who is just beginning therapy with anti hypertensive medications. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
a. “I may experience serious long-term problems even if I am not having symptoms.”
b. “I should report side effects to the provider since other drugs may be substituted.”
c. “I will need to take medications on a long-term basis.”
d. “When my symptoms subside, I may discontinue the medications.”
Answer:
The statement “When my symptoms subside, I may discontinue the medications.” by the patient indicates a need for further teaching
Explanation:
Patients should be taught that hypertension treatment is lifelong and that medications must be continued even when symptoms subside. Long-term problems may still occur without symptoms. Reporting drug side effects is necessary so that other drugs may be tried if needed. Abrupt discontinuation of high doses of centrally acting drugs such as alpha-methyldopa, clonidine, and guanabenz can produce a syndrome of sympathetic over activity that includes agitation, headache, sweating, and nausea and less commonly can provoke rapid upswings in blood pressure.
