Question

A nurse is caring for a client in an outpatient psychiatric clinic who has been applying a selegiline 12 mg transdermal patch once daily. The client is at risk for developing _______ due to ________.

A) Hypertension; tyramine-containing foods
B) Insomnia; evening administration
C) Hypotension; concurrent use of benzodiazepines
D) Serotonin syndrome; concurrent use of SSRIs

Answer 1

The client using a selegiline transdermal patch is at risk for serotonin syndrome due to the concurrent use of SSRIs, as both drugs increase serotonin levels in the brain.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse is caring for a client in an outpatient psychiatric clinic who has been applying a selegiline 12 mg transdermal patch once daily. The client is at risk for developing serotonin syndrome; due to concurrent use of SSRIs.

Selegiline is a type of monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) that inhibits the breakdown of neurotransmitters, including serotonin. When used in conjunction with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), there is an increased risk for serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by an excess of serotonin. The combined use of these drugs leads to increased serotonin in the synaptic cleft, which can produce a range of symptoms from mild (shivering and diarrhea) to severe (muscle rigidity, fever, and seizures).

Therefore, the correct answer is D) Serotonin syndrome; concurrent use of SSRIs.