A patient who is taking an antipsychotic drug for schizophrenia comes to the clinic for evaluation. The nurse observes that the patient has a shuffling gait and tremors and is drooling. The nurse will ask the patient's provider about which course of action?

Question

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The patient is showing signs of parkinsonism, an extrapyramidal effect associated with antipsychotic medications. Anticholinergic medications are indicated. A direct dopamine antagonist would counter the effects of the antipsychotic and remove any beneficial effect it has. Increasing the dose of the antipsychotic medication would only worsen the extrapyramidal symptoms. Stopping the antipsychotic medication would cause the symptoms of schizophrenia to worsen.

A Patient Who Is Taking an Antipsychotic Drug for Schizophrenia