Question

A nurse is caring for a client who is taking interferon beta-1b. The nurse should identify that which of the following indicates a potential serious adverse effect of this drug?

1) Nausea and vomiting
2) Headache and dizziness
3) Muscle pain and weakness
4) Chest pain and difficulty breathing

Answer 1

The potential serious adverse effect of interferon beta-1b in the options provided is chest pain and difficulty breathing, which can indicate more severe complications requiring immediate medical attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client taking interferon beta-1b may experience a range of side effects. Typical side effects include dizziness, fever, chills, headache, myalgia, nausea, and vomiting. However, some effects can signify more serious conditions. In the case presented, option 4, which is chest pain and difficulty breathing, indicates a potential serious adverse effect. This can be a symptom of more severe cases that affect motor coordination, breathing, and heart function. These symptoms warrant immediate medical attention as they could indicate life-threatening complications such as cardiac or respiratory problems.

While muscle pain and weakness or headache and dizziness might be commonly seen and could be managed symptomatically, chest pain coupled with difficulty breathing should be treated as a medical emergency. It's important for a nurse to be able to distinguish between common side effects and those that could indicate a serious, potentially fatal reaction to a medication.