What intervention should be included in the care plan for a patient prescribed amiodarone?

Including liver enzyme testing periodically in the care plan for a patient prescribed amiodarone is essential due to the drug's potential hepatotoxicity. Amiodarone can affect liver function, leading to elevations in liver enzymes and, in some cases, causing liver injury. Therefore, routine monitoring allows for early detection of any abnormalities, which is crucial for ensuring patient safety and managing possible side effects.

While monitoring blood pressure is important for many cardiac drugs, amiodarone specifically necessitates monitoring liver enzymes due to its unique risk profile. Although assessing for visual disturbances and checking for thyroid function are also relevant interventions, they serve different purposes related to the side effects of the medication. Visual disturbances can occur due to amiodarone's effect on the eyes, and thyroid function is crucial to monitor since amiodarone can influence thyroid hormone levels, leading to either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. However, the direct link between amiodarone and liver toxicity makes periodic liver enzyme testing a priority in the care plan.