A client who is prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant is brought to the emergency department with a suspected overdose. Which would the nurse assess to support this suspicion? Select all that apply.

A. "Are you feeling worse since taking the medication?" This is an important safety question to ask, as it helps to assess whether the client’s condition has worsened since starting the medication. However, it is not the first priority when evaluating the efficacy of a newly prescribed antidepressant.

B. "How long have you been taking the medication?" This is the most important question to ask first because the effectiveness of imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, can take several weeks to become apparent. If the client has not been taking the medication for an adequate period, the drug may simply not have had enough time to work yet.

C. "What time of day are you taking the medication?" While the timing of the medication can affect side effects, it is less critical than knowing how long the client has been on the medication when assessing its effectiveness.

D. "What dosage of medication are you taking?" This is an important follow-up question but not the first priority. The duration of treatment is more critical to assess before considering dosage adjustments.

A. "Her family will no longer be dysfunctional." Completing a treatment program does not guarantee that family dynamics will change or improve immediately. Family dysfunction is often deeply rooted and requires separate or concurrent therapy.

B. "She'll need ongoing support to remain abstinent." Recovery from alcoholism is an ongoing process, and continued support, whether through therapy, support groups, or counseling, is critical to maintaining abstinence and preventing relapse.

C. "She doesn't need to be concerned about abusing alcohol in the future." This statement is inaccurate because individuals recovering from alcoholism must remain vigilant to prevent relapse. Alcoholism is a chronic condition, and the risk of relapse remains.

D. "She can learn to consume alcohol without problems." This is incorrect, as individuals who have struggled with alcoholism typically need to abstain completely from alcohol to prevent relapse.