During a psychiatric emergency, IM chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is ...

[karen]

During a psychiatric emergency, IM chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is administered to an assaultive client. During the next 2 hours, it is of primary importance that the nurse structure client assess-ment to identify:
 
  1. Pseudoparkinsonism
  2. Anticholinergic effects
  3. Orthostatic hypotension
  4. Tardive dyskinesia

Question 2

A client has been taking chlorpromazine (Thorazine) for the past 2 weeks. He drools, has hand tremors, and walks with a shuffling gait. The nurse would correctly attribute these behaviors to:
 
  1. Tardive dyskinesia
  2. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
  3. Akinesia
  4. Pseudoparkinsonism

[Madisongo23]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: 3
The side effect most likely to appear is orthostatic hypotension related to alpha1 receptor block-ade preventing peripheral blood vessels from automatically responding to positional change. Op-tions 1 and 4 are less likely to occur at this point in therapy. Option 2 is of lesser concern.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: 4
These are symptoms of pseudoparkinsonism associated with dopamine blockade. Option 1: Tar-dive dyskinesia occurs after long-term therapy. Options 2 and 3: These are not associated with the symptoms mentioned.