A nurse is assessing a client who is taking an antipsychotic medication. Which statement by the client indicates a common adverse effect of antipsychotics?

Weight loss is not a common adverse effect of antipsychotic medications.In fact, most antipsychotics are associated with weight gain and metabolic syndrome, which can increase the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Some antipsychotics, such as clozapine (Clozaril®) and olanzapine (Zyprexa®), are more likely to cause weight gain than others.

The other choices are common adverse effects of antipsychotic medications.Sedation, dry mouth, and blurred vision are examples of anticholinergic effects, which are more prominent with first-generation antipsychotics and clozapine.These effects can be managed by reducing the dose, switching to a different antipsychotic, or using adjunctive medications.

Antipsychotics improve psychotic symptoms by blocking dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain.This reduces the overactivity of these neurotransmitters that are associated with psychosis.

Choice A is wrong because antipsychotics do not increase dopamine and serotonin receptors, but block them.

Choice C is wrong because antipsychotics do not increase dopamine receptors, but block them.

Increasing dopamine receptors would worsen psychotic symptoms.

Choice D is wrong because antipsychotics do not decrease dopamine receptors, but block them. Decreasing dopamine receptors would reduce the effectiveness of antipsychotics.

Normal ranges of dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain vary depending on the individual and the brain region, but generally they are between 0.1 and 0.8 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) for dopamine and between 101 and 283 ng/mL for serotonin.