The nurse determines that a client has been taking antidepressants for the past six months. Which symptoms are common effects of this medication classification?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Insomnia, hypertension, and vomiting: While insomnia can occur with certain antidepressants, hypertension and vomiting are not typical across the entire class. These effects are more likely related to specific subtypes or drug interactions. B. Dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation: These are classic anticholinergic effects seen in many antidepressants, especially tricyclic antidepressants. They result from inhibition of parasympathetic activity and are frequent enough to be considered common adverse effects. C. Headache, jaundice, and diarrhea: Headache can occur, but jaundice is rare and usually signals severe hepatic injury, not a routine side effect. Diarrhea is more common with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) but is not universally present. D. Bradycardia, delirium, and sedation: Sedation can occur with certain antidepressants, particularly those with strong histamine-blocking effects, but bradycardia and delirium are uncommon and usually indicate severe toxicity or overdose.