A client newly diagnosed with schizophrenia has been receiving a neuroleptic medication since yesterday. This client comes to the nurse with her head down and turned to one side. This client's tongue is fixed and protruding, and she is very upset

Question

The nurse knows that this client's dystonia is: a. rarely dangerous and can be ignored until the client is choking
b. a side effect of medication that will likely respond to other drugs
c. not a side effect of neuroleptics
d. likely to bring a risk of airway obstruction

Answer 1

B
The most readily treated side effect of antipsychotic medications is dystonia. Clients may present with the head drawn forcefully to one side, with spasms of the mouth muscles, or with fixed tongue protrusion. Dystonic reactions typically occur within a few hours or days of starting an antipsychotic medications. It is generally treated with diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or other anticholinergic medications.