A nurse is assessing a client who reports using cocaine 1 hr ago. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Polyphagia: Cocaine suppresses appetite rather than increasing it. Clients often experience anorexia or reduced food intake due to the stimulant effects of the drug on the central nervous system. B. Fever: Cocaine increases metabolic activity and causes intense sympathetic nervous system stimulation, which can lead to hyperthermia or fever. Elevated body temperature is a common acute effect of cocaine use. C. Bradycardia: Cocaine typically causes tachycardia, hypertension, and arrhythmias due to excessive catecholamine release. Bradycardia would be inconsistent with recent cocaine use. D. Oliguria: Cocaine does not typically cause reduced urine output. While dehydration can occur with prolonged use, acute intoxication primarily affects cardiovascular and neurologic systems rather than renal function.