The nurse recognizes which of the following individuals is at highest risk for developing orthostatic hypotension?
A) A 53-year-old patient taking Tigacil (tigecycline).
B) A 61-year-old patient taking Coumadin (warfarin).
C) A 49-year-old patient taking Zincate (zinc sulfate).
D) A 64-year-old patient taking Calan (verapamil).

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Calan (verapamil) is a calcium channel blocker and can cause orthostatic hypotension in some patients. The other medications listed have different mechanisms of action and are not known to cause orthostatic hypotension. Additionally, advancing age is a risk factor for orthostatic hypotension, so the 64-year-old patient is also at higher risk compared to the younger patients listed.

The Nurse Recognizes Which of the Following Individuals Is at Highest