Question

The client who is taking an SNRI reports not feeling well. After checking the client's vital signs, the nurse is alerted to a temperature of 101.2°F. The nurse suspects that the client may be experiencing which of the following side effects?

A)Serotonin Syndrome
B)Status epilepticus
C)dystonia
D)Acute dystonia

Answer 1

The client with an elevated temperature of 101.2°F and taking an SNRI may be experiencing Serotonin Syndrome. This condition is more likely associated with fever than other listed conditions like Status epilepticus, dystonia, or acute dystonia. A thorough assessment by a healthcare provider is necessary to determine the exact side effect.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client taking an SNRI and experiencing a high temperature could be showing signs of Serotonin Syndrome, a potential side effect of such medication. Serotonin Syndrome is a condition that may occur following an increase in serotonin levels, typically due to medication. In contrast to Serotonin Syndrome, Status epilepticus refers to a prolonged seizure or a series of seizures without full recovery in between, dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that cause repetitive or twisting movements, and acute dystonia is a sudden-onset version of dystonia that can be a side effect of medication. However, fever is more commonly associated with Serotonin Syndrome.

Signs are the objective evidence of disease, such as fever, that can be measured or verified by another person. Symptoms are subjective experiences of the client, such as nausea and a constant migraine, that cannot be measured by others but are reported by the client.

Considering common side effects of antidepressants, while some symptoms may overlap, the presence of a fever points more toward Serotonin Syndrome. It is important that the healthcare provider assesses the client's condition thoroughly to discern the correct side effect occurring.