A nurse is providing care to a client who has a history of asthma. The client presents with influenza symptoms that started the previous day. The provider orders an influenza test and prescribes an oral antiviral with instructions to begin the treatment as soon as possible. The client asks the nurse whether they can take the antiviral before the lab results are back. Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?

A. Report new-onset muscle weakness: Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness, cramps, and fatigue, which are important symptoms that need to be monitored. Reporting these symptoms promptly is crucial because severe hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening complications, such as respiratory failure or cardiac arrhythmias.

B. Increase consumption of apples and broccoli: While fruits and vegetables like apples and broccoli are healthy, they are not particularly high in potassium. The client should be encouraged to consume potassium-rich foods such as bananas, oranges, potatoes, and spinach to help correct hypokalemia.

C. Avoid salt substitutes: Some salt substitutes contain potassium chloride, which can actually help increase potassium levels. However, this option might be recommended in certain conditions where potassium levels need to be carefully controlled, such as in renal failure, not in hypokalemia management.

D. Report falls, due to high risk of osteoporosis: Hypokalemia does not directly increase the risk of osteoporosis. Falls may occur due to muscle weakness, but this is not specifically related to osteoporosis. Therefore, reporting falls is not the primary concern in hypokalemia.

A. Dry oral mucous membranes can occur with the use of inhalers but are not a serious adverse effect of beclomethasone. It can be managed with proper hydration and is not typically a cause for concern.
B. Tremors are more commonly associated with bronchodilators, such as beta-agonists, rather than corticosteroids like beclomethasone. They are not a typical side effect of beclomethasone MDI.
C. A white coating in the mouth may indicate oral thrush, a fungal infection caused by Candida species, which is a known adverse effect of inhaled corticosteroids like beclomethasone. The client should be instructed to rinse their mouth after each use to prevent this complication and report any signs of oral thrush to the provider.
D. Nausea is not a common adverse effect of inhaled corticosteroids. It is more often associated with systemic medications rather than inhaled therapies.