A patient with schizophrenia receives a dose of risperidone [Risperdal Consta] IM. The nurse teaching this patient about this medication will make which statement?
a. "You will experience therapeutic levels of this drug in 1 to 2 weeks."
b. "You will need injections of this drug every 6 weeks."
c. "You will need to take an oral antipsy-chotic drug for 3 weeks."
d. "You probably will not have extrapyra-midal symptoms with this drug."
C
Risperidone given intramuscularly is a depot preparation used for long-term therapy. Significant release of the drug does not occur until 2 to 3 weeks after injection; therefore, patients must take an oral antipsychotic medication until drug levels are raised. Therapeutic levels are reached 4 to 6 weeks after injection. Patients need injections every 2 weeks. With IM dosing, the incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms is substantial.
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