A 53-year-old woman with long-standing hypertension has already been treated with a ß-blocker and a calcium channel blocker, which have failed to control her blood pressure. She is now treated with losartan. Which of the following statements is correct regarding its pharmacokinetics?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Norepinephrine. In the fight-or-flight response, the body releases norepinephrine, which triggers physiological changes to prepare for a perceived threat. Norepinephrine increases heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose release for energy. Acetylcholine (A) is involved in muscle contraction and parasympathetic nervous system functions. Dopamine (B) is associated with reward and pleasure. Serotonin (C) regulates mood, appetite, and sleep. Norepinephrine (D) is the neurotransmitter most closely associated with the fight-or-flight response due to its role in stress response and alertness.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Use of neologisms. Negative symptoms in schizophrenia include apathy, avolition, and blunted affect, but not the use of neologisms. Neologisms are more related to positive symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. Therefore, a decrease in the use of neologisms would not be indicative of improvement in negative symptoms. Delusional thinking (A) is a positive symptom, so a decrease in this would not reflect improvement in negative symptoms. Apathy (B) and avolition (D) are classic negative symptoms, so a decrease in these would indicate improvement in negative symptoms.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for the correct answer (C): 1. Lithium is known to cause side effects such as diaphoresis (excessive sweating), weakness, and nausea. 2. Monitoring for diaphoresis is important as it may indicate lithium toxicity. 3. Weakness and nausea are common side effects of lithium that should be closely monitored. 4. These symptoms can help the nurse assess the patient's response to lithium therapy and detect any potential adverse effects early. 5. Pharyngitis, mydriasis, dystonia (choice A) are not commonly associated with lithium therapy. 6. Alopecia, purpura, drowsiness (choice B) are not typical side effects of lithium. 7. Ascites, dyspnea, edema (choice D) are not commonly seen with lithium use. In summary, monitoring for diaphoresis, weakness, and nausea is crucial in patients taking lithium to ensure patient safety and well-being.