An individual with chronic schizophrenia who recently started taking Zyprexa (olanzapine) is smacking his lips, puffing his cheeks, and chewing. Which of the following statements by the nurse is best?
A) "Don't worry, this is commonly seen with advancing schizophrenia; you may need a higher dose of medication."
B) "These are symptoms seen in withdrawal from the medication; have you stopped taking your medication for some reason?"
C) "These movements are a side effect of the medication; you should stop taking it."
D) "We see this a lot, it will go away after you've been on the medication for a month or so."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described (smacking lips, puffing cheeks, and chewing) are indicative of tardive dyskinesia, a potential side effect of antipsychotic medications such as Zyprexa. The nurse should advise the individual to stop taking the medication immediately and report these symptoms to their healthcare provider. Option A is incorrect as it suggests increasing the dose of medication, which could exacerbate the side effects. Option B is not a likely explanation as the symptoms are more indicative of tardive dyskinesia than withdrawal. Option D is incorrect because tardive dyskinesia is a serious potential side effect that may not go away even after the medication is stopped.

An Individual with Chronic Schizophrenia Who Recently Started Taking Zyprexa