What should the nurse do if a patient on hydrocortisone experiences increased wheezing after starting cholestyramine?

In this scenario, the patient's increased wheezing after starting cholestyramine may indicate an adverse reaction or interaction related to the medications they are taking. Choletyramine itself can potentially affect the absorption of various drugs, including corticosteroids like hydrocortisone. Therefore, if a patient begins to experience new respiratory symptoms such as increased wheezing after a recent change in medication, it is reasonable and prudent to hold the cholestyramine.

Halting the cholestyramine allows the healthcare provider to evaluate the patient's respiratory status without the potential influence of the new medication that may be contributing to the wheezing. This approach prioritizes patient safety and provides an opportunity to assess whether symptoms improve when the potentially offending agent is discontinued, which may clarify the cause of the wheezing.

It is also important to consider that while other interventions, like administering a bronchodilator or increasing oxygen therapy, can be appropriate responses to wheezing, they do not address the underlying potential drug interaction or side effect directly. Assessing for new allergies is relevant but would not be the immediate course of action without having first eliminated the possibility of medication-related issues.