Question

A nurse is assessing a client who has major depressive disorder and is taking amitriptyline. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an adverse effect of the medication?

a. Increased appetite
b. Bradycardia
c. Elevated mood
d. Dry mouth

Answer 1

Dry mouth is an adverse effect of amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant used for major depressive disorder.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a client who has major depressive disorder and is taking amitriptyline, the nurse should identify dry mouth as an adverse effect of the medication. Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) that is commonly used to treat major depression, which is characterized by feelings of intense sadness and despair, and associated physical changes. TCAs can lead to several side effects, and dry mouth is a commonly experienced adverse effect alongside others such as constipation, dizziness, and blurred vision. Amitriptyline works over a period of time, usually taking two to three weeks to begin elevating mood in depressed patients, and it is not given on an "as-needed" basis due to the nature of its effects.