The nurse is caring for a 32-year-old woman who has an enlarged thyroid, bulging eyes, and elevated T3 and T4 levels and states she has not had a menstrual cycle in 6 months. She also states she has tremors and keeps losing weight without trying. Which of the following medications would the nurse anticipate being ordered?

Choice A reason: Untreated hypothyroidism progresses to myxedema, a severe state with slowed metabolism causing fatigue, cold intolerance, constipation, and hair loss from low thyroid hormone.

Choice B reason: Hypocalcemia results from hypoparathyroidism, not hypothyroidism, which affects metabolism, not calcium regulation directly, so it’s unrelated to these symptoms.

Choice C reason: Pericarditis may occur in severe hypothyroidism late, but it’s not the primary complication; myxedema encompasses the broader metabolic decline seen here.

Choice D reason: Thyroid crisis (storm) is a hyperthyroid emergency with fever and tachycardia, opposite to hypothyroidism’s slow symptoms like coldness and fatigue.

Choice A reason: Mucolytics (e.g., acetylcysteine) break disulfide bonds in mucus, thinning it to ease expectoration, directly aiding secretion clearance in respiratory conditions.

Choice B reason: Glucocorticoids reduce inflammation in airways, not liquefying mucus; they address swelling, not viscosity, so they don’t facilitate expulsion directly.

Choice C reason: Calcium channel blockers relax vascular smooth muscle for hypertension, not affecting mucus consistency or respiratory secretions, irrelevant to this goal.

Choice D reason: Bronchodilators open airways, improving airflow, but don’t alter mucus viscosity, aiding breathing, not secretion liquefaction or removal specifically.