The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with migraine headaches that occur every 2–3 days and placed on preventive therapy with the beta blocker propranolol (Inderal). Which data indicates the medication is effective?

Question

1. The client has supplemented propranolol with sumatriptan (Imitrex) four times this week.
2. The apical pulse is 78 beats per minute for this client.
3. The client had only one headache in the past week.
4. The client has developed orthostatic hypotension.

Answer 1

3

Rationale 1: This would mean the client had four migraines during the week, which would be an increase in migraines for the client.
Rationale 2: This would not indicate an improvement in migraines.
Rationale 3: The client's having only one headache in the past week would show an improvement in the frequency of migraines.
Rationale 4:Orthostatic hypotension is an adverse effect of the Inderal.

Global Rationale: The client's having only one headache in the past week would show an improvement in the frequency of migraines. Supplementing the propranolol would indicate that the client had four migraines during the week, which would be an increase in migraines for the client.