Question

a 75-year-old client is given an order for a cns stimulant secondary to a new diagnosis of narcolepsy. they begin to experience signs and symptoms of excessive cns stimulation. the nurse knows that the client is likely to also experience an exacerbation of which preexisting condition?
hyperparathyroidism
gout
cardiac arrhythmias
diabetes

Explanation:

CNS stimulants increase heart rate and cardiac excitability. This heightened cardiac stimulation can exacerbate preexisting cardiac arrhythmias, as the stimulant amplifies irregular electrical activity in the heart. The other conditions listed are not directly exacerbated by excessive CNS stimulant effects in this manner.

Answer:

Cardiac arrhythmias