Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 93%
Simulated
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has neuropathic pain and a new prescription for amitriptyline once per day. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct answer is A: Increase fluids while taking the medication. Amitriptyline is known to cause dry mouth and constipation as side effects. Increasing fluids can help alleviate these side effects. It is important to stay hydrated to prevent complications such as urinary retention. Option B is incorrect because amitriptyline can actually cause orthostatic hypotension, not an elevation in blood pressure. Option C is incorrect because urine discoloration is not a common side effect of amitriptyline. Option D is incorrect as there is no specific time of day required for taking amitriptyline.