A client who has Graves’ disease is prescribed methimazole.
Which of the following effects should the nurse expect to see after the client has taken the medication for 2 months?
A.
Weight loss.
B.
Increase in pulse rate.
C.
Increased sleeping.
D.
Warmer skin.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. Weight loss.
Explanation:
Methimazole is an antithyroid medication used to manage hyperthyroidism, a condition often caused by Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease results in excessive production of thyroid hormones, which leads to an overactive metabolism. Methimazole works by inhibiting the synthesis of thyroid hormones, thereby reducing the levels of these hormones in the body.
After taking methimazole for about 2 months, the expected effect would be a decrease in the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which includes weight loss. Hyperthyroidism often causes weight loss due to an accelerated metabolic rate. As methimazole reduces thyroid hormone levels, the metabolic rate normalizes, leading to potential weight gain or a reduction in weight loss that was previously experienced.
Here’s why the other options are less likely:
- B. Increase in pulse rate: Methimazole typically helps normalize heart rate. Hyperthyroidism often causes tachycardia (increased pulse rate), so as thyroid hormone levels decrease, the pulse rate usually decreases as well.
- C. Increased sleeping: Hyperthyroidism often causes insomnia or difficulty sleeping due to the overstimulation of the metabolism. As thyroid hormone levels decrease with methimazole treatment, patients might actually experience improved sleep patterns, not increased sleeping.
- D. Warmer skin: Hyperthyroidism is associated with warmer and more sweaty skin due to an increased metabolic rate. As methimazole reduces thyroid hormone levels and normalizes metabolism, skin temperature generally tends to return to normal or even become cooler.
In summary, after 2 months on methimazole, a client with Graves’ disease should ideally experience a reduction in symptoms such as weight loss, reflecting the medication’s effectiveness in controlling thyroid hormone levels.