A client is instructed to take pseudoephedrine for nasal congestion symptoms. The nurse teaching about this drug knows that this is appropriate because the therapeutic effect for pseudoephedrine is:

A. increased blood pressure: Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic agent that can cause mild vasoconstriction and may elevate blood pressure as a side effect, but this is not its therapeutic goal. Monitoring is important for clients with hypertension, but the primary purpose is not to increase blood pressure. B. increased heart rate: Tachycardia may occur due to pseudoephedrine’s stimulation of adrenergic receptors, but this represents a potential adverse effect rather than the intended therapeutic outcome. Its main clinical use is unrelated to heart rate modulation. C. decrease production of mucus: Pseudoephedrine does not reduce mucus production directly. Mucus continues to be produced; the drug works by narrowing blood vessels to decrease nasal mucosal swelling, which indirectly facilitates drainage. D. improved nasal drainage: The primary therapeutic effect of pseudoephedrine is vasoconstriction of nasal blood vessels, which reduces mucosal edema and opens nasal passages. This improves airflow and drainage, relieving symptoms of nasal congestion associated with colds, allergies, or sinusitis.