Mrs. Shea, a 54-year-old woman, has been admitted with hypertensive crisis and tachycardia. She received a diagnosis of hypertension 2 years ago and until now has been controlling her blood pressure with a thiazide diuretic. In taking her health history, the nurse learns that Mrs. Shea has recently started taking pseudoephedrine in oral form for sinus congestion. She tells the nurse, "I don't understand it; I have been taking my blood pressure medication regularly, as always. It has kept my blood pressure under control for 2 years. Why am 1 having these problems now?"
- What is the relationship between the pseudoephedrine and Mrs. Shea's hypertension?
- What should the nurse teach Mrs. Shea regarding the use of these drugs?
- What additional adverse effects related to the pseudoephedrine might the nurse expect to see in Mrs. Shea?