A nurse reviews medication precautions with a patient who is taking levothyroxine (Synthroid). Which of these statements, if made by the patient would indicate that the patient has the correct understanding of the instructions?

A. "I will monitor my pulse rate while I am taking the medication.": Levothyroxine increases metabolic activity and can raise heart rate, so monitoring for tachycardia helps detect early signs of excess dosing. Patients can identify palpitations, irregular beats, or sustained elevations in pulse that may signal the need for dosage adjustment. B. "I will be able to stop taking the medication when my symptoms improve.": Levothyroxine is a lifelong therapy for most patients because it replaces a hormone the thyroid can no longer produce adequately. Stopping the medication would allow hypothyroid symptoms to return and may lead to complications such as fatigue and bradycardia. C. "I will probably gain some weight while I am taking this medication.": Levothyroxine tends to increase metabolic rate and often leads to mild weight loss rather than weight gain when dosed appropriately. Weight gain may indicate under-replacement or disease progression rather than a drug effect. D. "I will take the medication every night at bedtime.": Levothyroxine is best taken in the morning on an empty stomach because food and other medications can interfere with its absorption. Taking it at night may expose it to variable food intake and decrease its effectiveness.