A client on an MAO inhibitor reports a pounding headache. The appropriate nursing action is to:

A client on an MAO inhibitor reports a pounding headache. The appropriate nursing action is to:

• A. Get an order for Tylenol and have the client rest a while.
• B. Teach relaxation techniques.
• C. Have the client rest quietly in a dark room.
• D. Check the client's blood pressure and inquire about eating habits.

Answer: (D)

When a client on an MAO inhibitor reports a pounding headache, think hypertensive crisis from tyramine interaction. MAO inhibitors block tyramine breakdown, so consuming tyramine-rich foods (like aged cheese, cured meats, certain wines) can trigger a surge of norepinephrine and a dangerous rise in blood pressure. The right nursing action is to immediately check the blood pressure and ask about recent dietary intake to identify possible tyramine ingestion and assess for hypertensive crisis. Other options don’t address the potential life-threatening rise in blood pressure and the dietary cause, so they don’t adequately manage this risk. If the BP is elevated, notify the physician and follow protocol for hypertensive crisis management.

When a client on an MAO inhibitor reports a pounding headache, think hypertensive crisis from tyramine interaction. MAO inhibitors block tyramine breakdown, so consuming tyramine-rich foods (like aged cheese, cured meats, certain wines) can trigger a surge of norepinephrine and a dangerous rise in blood pressure. The right nursing action is to immediately check the blood pressure and ask about recent dietary intake to identify possible tyramine ingestion and assess for hypertensive crisis. Other options don’t address the potential life-threatening rise in blood pressure and the dietary cause, so they don’t adequately manage this risk. If the BP is elevated, notify the physician and follow protocol for hypertensive crisis management.