Final answer:
The desired effect of the clonidine patch is to lower high blood pressure in a patient with hypertension. Therefore, D) Hypotension is the correct answer indicating that the medication is working effectively. Clonidine's primary intended therapeutic effect is not to reduce heart rate to the extent of causing bradycardia, which is a potential side effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking which assessment finding would indicate that the transdermal patch of clonidine (Catapres) - a sympatholytic drug and an α-agonist - is achieving its intended medicative effect. Considering that clonidine is prescribed primarily to manage hypertension, the desired effect would be a reduction in blood pressure to normal levels. Thus, among the options provided, D) Hypotension indicates that the clonidine patch is effectively lowering high blood pressure, which is the target outcome for this medication. Other effects such as bradycardia could occur, but it's important to note that bradycardia is a potential side effect rather than the intended therapeutic effect of clonidine.
Sympatholytic drugs like clonidine work by inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system, which in the case of clonidine involves reducing the actions that usually prompt 'fight, flight, or fright' responses. This leads to a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, which is beneficial in conditions like hypertension and anxiety. However, unlike β-blockers, which work by blocking adrenaline at the beta-1 receptor and can potentially cause a drastic reduction in heart rate (bradycardia), clonidine's mechanism primarily involves decreased sympathetic outflow. This nuanced difference is important for understanding why option D) Hypotension is the correct answer.