Final answer:
IV pentamidine therapy can lead to electrolyte disturbances causing side effects such as agitation, anxiety, and abnormal heart rhythms, especially in patients with underlying health conditions or those receiving immunosuppressive treatments.
Step-by-step explanation:
IV pentamidine therapy is associated with a number of electrolyte disturbances. When administered intravenously, pentamidine can cause a host of side effects, including agitation, anxiety, sleep problems, nausea and vomiting, abnormal heart rhythms, low blood pressure, and muscular problems. These complications may result from the drug's impact on electrolytes in the body, which are vital for maintaining a range of physiological functions. Electrolyte imbalances can affect the heart, nerves, and muscles, leading to the aforementioned issues.
Patients with underlying health conditions like diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, hepatitis, or HIV infection are at higher risk for these disturbances, as are those undergoing treatments that suppress the immune system, such as chemotherapy, bone marrow ablation before transplantation, or radiation therapy. Additional factors increasing risk include prolonged critical illness due to infection, surgery, or trauma, especially in vulnerable populations such as the very young, elderly, or hospitalized patients.