When providing health education to a client taking octreotide, the nurse should warn the client about the possibility of what potential adverse effect?

Octreotide is a synthetic analog of somatostatin, a hormone that inhibits the secretion of growth hormone, insulin, glucagon, and other hormones. Octreotide can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and flatulence. These side effects are more common and severe with the oral route than with the injectable route.

Choice B is wrong because tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is not a common or serious side effect of octreotide.

Choice C is wrong because alteration in consciousness is not a common or serious side effect of octreotide.

However, octreotide can affect blood glucose levels and cause hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, which can lead to confusion, dizziness, fainting, seizures, or coma in severe cases.

Choice D is wrong because changes in vision are not a common or serious side effect of octreotide.

However, octreotide can cause rare but serious eye problems such as blurred vision, double vision, eye pain, or blindness due to optic nerve damage or retinal detachment.

These eye problems require immediate medical attention.

Normal ranges for blood glucose are 70 to 100 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.6 mmol/L) for fasting and less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) for postprandial.

Glycerin suppositories are safe and effective for infants with constipation. They work by lubricating and softening the stool, and stimulating the rectal muscles to contract.

Choice B is wrong because magnesium hydroxide is not recommended for infants under 6 months of age, and may cause diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, or magnesium toxicity.

Choice Cis wrong because watchful waiting for 24 hours may not be enough to relieve the infant’s discomfort and may lead to further complications such as fecal impaction or dehydration.

Choice Dis wrong because feeding supplementation with free water may not be sufficient to treat constipation, and may dilute the infant’s intake of nutrients and electrolytes.