A nurse is caring for a client who consumed alcohol 2 days after taking disulfiram. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following findings?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Dry skin: Dry skin is not typically associated with the disulfiram-alcohol reaction. The primary concerns involve cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms rather than dermatologic effects. B. Hypotension: Disulfiram causes an intense physical reaction when alcohol is consumed, including symptoms like flushing, nausea, vomiting, hypotension, and potentially life-threatening cardiovascular collapse. Monitoring for hypotension is critical during this reaction. C. Constipation: Constipation is not a typical side effect of disulfiram-alcohol interaction. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting are much more common and more clinically significant. D. Urinary retention: Urinary retention is not a known reaction to the combination of disulfiram and alcohol. The body’s response focuses more on vascular changes and gastrointestinal distress.