A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and is receiving clozapine. For which of the following findings should the nurse monitor to determine if the medication is having a therapeutic effect?
Decreased auditory hallucinations
Control of seizure activity
Weight gain
Decreased WBC count
The Correct Answer is A
A. Clozapine is an antipsychotic medication commonly used to treat schizophrenia.
Reduction in auditory hallucinations is a positive therapeutic outcome indicating the medication's efficacy in managing psychotic symptoms.
B. While clozapine may have antiepileptic properties, it's primarily used for its antipsychotic effects rather than controlling seizures.
C. Weight gain is a common side effect of clozapine rather than an indicator of therapeutic effect.
D. Clozapine is associated with the potential for agranulocytosis, a severe adverse effect characterized by a decreased white blood cell count, but this is not a measure of therapeutic effect.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Akathisia refers to a subjective feeling of restlessness and an objective inability to sit still.
It's characterized by a need to move constantly and is not typically associated with choreiform movements, lip smacking, or spastic facial distortions.
B. Dystonia involves sustained or intermittent muscle contractions leading to abnormal postures or twisting movements. It typically presents with muscle spasms, not choreiform movements or lip smacking.
C. Pseudoparkinsonism refers to a collection of symptoms that resemble Parkinson's disease, such as tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. It does not typically involve choreiform movements or lip smacking.
D. Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements of the face and body, including choreiform movements (rapid, jerky movements), lip smacking, and spastic facial distortions. It often develops after long-term use of antipsychotic medications like chlorpromazine and can persist even after discontinuation of the medication.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Decreased libido is a potential adverse effect of finasteride due to its action on reducing dihydrotestosterone levels.
B. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels typically decrease while taking finasteride, not increase. It's important for the nurse to educate the client about the potential impact of finasteride on PSA levels and the interpretation of PSA tests.
C. Avoiding grapefruit juice is not specifically relevant to the use of finasteride. Grapefruit juice can interact with certain medications by affecting their metabolism, but this is not a concern with finasteride.
D. The effects of finasteride on BPH symptoms may take several months to become noticeable.
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