MEDizzy - A client has been prescribed clonidine (Catapres®) for the

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Psychiatric Pharmacological Therapy

A client has been prescribed clonidine (Catapres®) for the unlabeled purpose of easing the discomfort associated with smoking cessation. On which body system should a nurse initially focus the client’s physical assessment?

ExplanationA nurse should focus the initial assessment on the cardiovascular system because the sympathetic activity can cause hypotension and bradycardia. Dry mouth and drowsiness can also be expected with cloni- dine, so the gastrointestinal system and neurological system should also be assessed but are of less importance than the cardiovascular system. Because there are no anticipated musculoskeletal reactions to clonidine, an assessment of the musculoskeletal system is the least important.