An older male adult is taking ziprasidone (Geodon), and the nurse helps him to choose menu items. To prevent exacerbation of potential adverse effects of therapy, which menu item does the nurse instruct the man to avoid?

Question

a. Biscuits and gravy
b. Coffee with cream
c. Whole grain bread
d. Mixed green salad

Answer 1

B

Feedback
A Incorrect. The nurse instructs all older adults to avoid eating biscuits and gravy because these items have an excessively high fat content.
B Correct. Because antipsychotic medications potentially impair the body's ther-moregulatory ability, the nurse instructs an older adult who takes an antipsy-chotic agent like ziprasidone to avoid caffeinated beverages because they con-tribute to dehydration. This man is at high risk for organ damage due to hyper-thermia from mild elevations in the environmental temperature; so, he must avoid dehydration, stay in cool temperatures, keep out of direct sunlight, and alert people around him and caregivers to monitor his temperature carefully and to be prepared to provide cooling sponge baths, cool liquids, and other measures to reduce his temperature quickly.
C Incorrect. Whole grain bread is a healthy food item to choose.
D Incorrect. Mixed green salad is a healthy food item to choose.