🔥 Answer: Altered mental status is correct because atropine overdose produces severe anticholinergic toxicity, which disrupts central nervous system function and leads to agitation, confusion, hallucinations, and delirium.

🔥 Atropine blocks acetylcholine in the brain as well as the body, leading to central anticholinergic syndrome, where the client becomes acutely confused, restless, disoriented, and may progress to seizures or coma.

🔥 This CNS toxicity is one of the most dangerous features of atropine overdose, requiring rapid supportive care and possibly physostigmine to reverse the effects.

🔥 Miosis is incorrect because atropine causes mydriasis, meaning dilated pupils, not constricted ones.

🔥 Moist skin is incorrect because atropine causes dry, hot skin due to inhibition of sweat glands.

🔥 Clients are often “dry as a bone.”

🔥 Bradycardia is incorrect because atropine increases heart rate; overdose causes tachycardia due to complete muscarinic blockade.