A nurse is educating a client who has been prescribed phenelzine, an MAOI, for treatment-resistant depression. Which of the following instructions is most critical to prevent potentially life-threatening complications associated with this medication?

Choice A reason: The most critical teaching with MAOIs is to avoid foods containing tyramine. Eating these foods can trigger a hypertensive crisis, a potentially fatal complication. Choice B reason: Cold medications with pseudoephedrine may also increase blood pressure and should be avoided, but dietary restrictions are more essential because food exposure is more common and life-threatening if overlooked. Choice C reason: Taking the medication with food may reduce mild gastrointestinal side effects, but this is not the priority safety teaching. Choice D reason: Avoiding hazardous activities until medication effects are known is general advice for many psychotropic drugs, but it is not specific or lifesaving for MAOI therapy.