Question

A home care nurse has observed a client self-administer a dose of an adrenergic bronchodilator via metered-dose inhaler. Within a short time, the client begins to wheeze loudly. The nurse understands that this is the result of which occurrence?

1) Insufficient dosage of the medication, which needs to be increased
2) Probable interaction of this medication with an over-the-counter cold remedy
3) Tolerance to the medication, indicating a need for a stronger type of bronchodilator
4) Paradoxical bronchospasm, which must be reported to the health care provider (HCP)

Answer 1

The wheezing observed after self-administering a bronchodilator inhaler is likely due to paradoxical bronchospasm, and the nurse should report it to the health care provider.

Step-by-step explanation:

The wheezing observed after the client self-administered a dose of an adrenergic bronchodilator via a metered-dose inhaler is likely due to paradoxical bronchospasm. This refers to a rare side effect of bronchodilators where the airways actually constrict instead of expanding. It is important for the nurse to report this to the health care provider (HCP) for further evaluation and possible medication adjustment.