Final answer:
C. Dry mouth. Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine®), an antihistamine used to treat motion sickness, may commonly result in dry mouth as a side effect. Other side effects include dizziness, blurred vision, and drowsiness. Choice C, dry mouth, is the correct side effect a patient may experience when taking this drug.
Step-by-step explanation:
When treating a patient for motion sickness with the drug dimenhydrinate, commonly known as Dramamine®, the patient may experience several possible side effects. One such side effect is dry mouth. Although dry mouth is not as severe as some other potential side effects of antihistamines, it is still something patients should be aware of when starting treatment. Other common side effects of antihistamine medications used to treat conditions like motion sickness, and which might also apply to dimenhydrinate, include dizziness, blurred vision, drowsiness, and sometimes constipation or urinary retention. Therefore, of the options provided, the most likely side effect the patient may experience is C. Dry mouth.
It should be noted that while dry mouth is a common side effect, antihistamines can have variable effects on different people, and a comprehensive assessment by a healthcare professional is the best way to mitigate potential adverse effects. Antihistamines like dimenhydrinate are generally considered safe when used appropriately and can be very effective in preventing the autonomic symptoms associated with motion sickness, such as nausea and vomiting, agitation, and anxiety.