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
Choice A reason: Constipation isn’t a primary effect of disulfiram-alcohol reaction, which causes acetaldehyde buildup, triggering vasodilation and nausea, not gut motility issues. Scientifically, this reaction targets cardiovascular and systemic responses, lacking evidence for significant gastrointestinal stasis as a monitored outcome in this scenario.Choice B reason: Dry skin isn’t linked to disulfiram-alcohol interaction, which induces flushing and sweating from acetaldehyde toxicity, not dehydration. Scientifically, the reaction affects vascular and autonomic systems, producing moist, not dry, skin responses, making this an unrelated finding for monitoring here.Choice C reason: Hypotension occurs in disulfiram-alcohol reaction as acetaldehyde dilates vessels, dropping blood pressure. This cardiovascular effect, alongside tachycardia, is a key sign to monitor, aligning with scientific understanding of the drug’s inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase, causing systemic distress.Choice D reason: Urinary retention isn’t a typical disulfiram-alcohol effect; the reaction focuses on vasodilation, nausea, and hypotension from acetaldehyde. Scientifically, autonomic overstimulation may occur, but bladder dysfunction isn’t a primary outcome, making this less critical to monitor than cardiovascular collapse.