Which of the following is an expected adverse effect of nitroprusside?

Nitroprusside is a potent vasodilator commonly used in acute settings to manage severe hypertension. One of its primary mechanisms of action is the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, which results in the dilation of blood vessels. This leads to a decrease in systemic vascular resistance and a subsequent drop in blood pressure.

Adverse effects of nitroprusside frequently include hypotension due to its rapid vasodilatory effects. If not carefully monitored or if administered inappropriately, this can result in dangerously low blood pressure levels. As such, clinicians must closely monitor blood pressure when initiating or adjusting the dose of nitroprusside to prevent excessive hypotension, which can lead to symptoms like dizziness, fainting, or shock.

The other choices represent less common or unrelated adverse effects associated with nitroprusside. Diarrhea, while it can occur with various medications, isn’t a primary or expected side effect of nitroprusside. Hyperkalemia, or elevated potassium levels in the blood, is not a direct effect of nitroprusside but may have secondary associations in specific clinical contexts unrelated to its primary mechanism of action. Severe headaches are more commonly related to other medications like nitrates or sudden changes in blood pressure rather