When a patient with paranoid schizophrenia has a recurrence of positive symptoms after stopping his antipsychotic medication because of its postural hypotension (orthostasis)side effect,he is readmitted to the mental health unit.What measure should the nurse suggest to help the patient address this side effect?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Orthostasis involves an impaired ability to adjust one's blood pressure momentarily upward to compensate for changes in position;it produces dizziness or fainting when moving from a lying or seated position to a standing position.Arising slowly reduces dizziness.Maintaining adequate hydration and preventing blood pooling in lower extremities can also reduce the degree of orthostasis experienced.The use of support hose may also be helpful to prevent pooling of blood in the lower extremities.Postural hypotension is not an extrapyramidal side effect and will not be helped by anticholinergic medication.Dry mouth would be helped by foods that stimulate salivation,but this would not help hypotension.

When a Patient with Paranoid Schizophrenia Has a Recurrence of Positive