Clonidine (Catapres) is prescribed for a hypertensive patient. Which instruction should the nurse include in patient education?
a. "You may have difficulty falling asleep while taking this drug."
b. "If you have problems tolerating the drug, you may stop taking it."
c. "Many patients taking this drug experience excessive salivation."
d. "Take frequent sips of water to relieve dryness in your mouth."
D
Clonidine, as do most indirect-acting antiadrenergic medications, causes xerostomia, or dry mouth, as a side effect. The patient should be encouraged to take frequent sips of water to lessen the effect.
Clonidine may cause drowsiness, not insomnia.
As with other antihypertensive agents, clonidine should not be withdrawn abruptly. The patient should never stop the medication, but rather should contact the prescriber.
Clonidine is likely to cause xerostomia, or dry mouth, not excessive salivation.
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