A health care provider considers which antipsychotic medication to prescribe for a patient with schizophrenia who has auditory hallucinations and poor social functioning.The patient is also overweight and has hypertension.Which drug should the nurse advocate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is effective against both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.It causes little or no weight gain and no increase in glucose,high- or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels,or triglycerides,making it a reasonable choice for a patient with obesity or heart disease.Clozapine may produce agranulocytosis,making it a poor choice as a first-line agent.Ziprasidone may prolong the QT interval,making it a poor choice for a patient with cardiac disease.Olanzapine fosters weight gain.

A Health Care Provider Considers Which Antipsychotic Medication to Prescribe