Burgess is a 67-year-old female who was recently diagnosed with depression and prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant drug.In addition, she is on medication for high blood pressure and takes a calcium supplement.She phones her physician's office complaining of problems with constipation.The nurse suspects that the problems may be due to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tricyclic antidepressant drugs are known to cause constipation as a side effect. Additionally, calcium supplements can also cause constipation. Given that Burgess is on both these medications, it is likely that they are contributing to her problems with constipation. Her age and high blood pressure are not likely to be the cause of her constipation in this case. The nurse suspects that Burgess' constipation may be due to the medications she is taking, as both tricyclic antidepressants and calcium supplements are known to cause constipation. The nurse should advise Burgess to speak with her physician about adjusting her medication regimen to address this issue.

Burgess Is a 67-Year-Old Female Who Was Recently Diagnosed with Depression