Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 94%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a client who is taking disulfiram for alcohol use disorder and reports ingestion of alcohol. For which of the following adverse effects should the nurse monitor?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Tinnitus. Disulfiram works by inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenase, leading to accumulation of acetaldehyde when alcohol is consumed. This can cause a disulfiram-alcohol reaction, leading to symptoms like tinnitus due to increased acetaldehyde levels. Tinnitus is a common adverse effect seen with disulfiram use. Headache, hypertension, and insomnia are not typically associated with a disulfiram-alcohol reaction. Monitoring for tinnitus is crucial to identify the occurrence of this reaction promptly.