The nurse would be aware that hypertension, nausea, vomiting, headaches and tachycardia are all indicators of hypertensive crisis. This is when the client has eaten foods that contain tyramine and tryptophan while taking MAO inhibitors. These specific meds lower the MAO in the liver, something that is very useful when the liver is breaking down tyramine and tryptophan. If the patient goes into hypertensive crisis, this can lead to the collapse of the circulatory system, intracranial hemorrhage, and even death.
