A client receiving an antipsychotic agent develops acute ...

[mrsjacobs44]

A client receiving an antipsychotic agent develops acute extrapyramidal symptoms. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
 
  A) These symptoms are not real; the medication makes your brain think they are real.
  B) You have developed an allergy to the medication, so we need to change it.
  C) These are the results of the drug and can be treated; your illness is not getting worse.
  D) The sunlight together with the medication has caused these symptoms; just stay indoors.

Question 2

A nurse is reviewing information about a psychiatric medication that describes the amount of the drug that actually reaches systemic circulation unchanged. The nurse identifies this as which of the following?
 
  A) First-pass effect
  B) Bioavailability
  C) Solubility
  D) Biotransformation

[cegalasso]

Answer to Question 1

Ans: C
Individuals with acute extrapyramidal symptoms need frequent reassurance that these are not a worsening of their psychiatric condition, but instead are treatable side effects of the medication. They also need validation that what they are experiencing is real, and that the nurse is concerned and will be responsive to changes in these symptoms. Extrapyramidal symptoms are not indicative of an allergy. Photosensitivity occurs with antipsychotic agents and sunlight.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: B
Bioavailability describes the amount of a drug that actually reaches the systemic circulation unchanged. First-pass effect refers to the metabolism that a drug undergoes within the gastrointestinal wall or liver before reaching the rest of the body. Solubility refers to the ability of a medication to cross a membrane. Biotransformation or metabolism is the process by which a drug is altered and broken down into small substances known as metabolites.