Question

For a patient who experiences medication side effects including facial-lingual-oral involuntary hyperkinesis, and limb choreoathetoid movements, the course of action most likely to result in an initial reduction in these symptoms would be to?

1) stop the medication immediately
2) increase the medication dose
3) change the medication to one in the same class but less potent
4) change the medication to one in the same class but more potent

Answer 1

To reduce medication side effects like involuntary movements, the best initial course of action is to stop the medication immediately and consult a healthcare professional. The correct option is 1) stop the medication immediately.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a patient experiencing medication side effects such as facial-lingual-oral involuntary hyperkinesis and limb choreoathetoid movements, the course of action most likely to result in an initial reduction in these symptoms would be to stop the medication immediately. These symptoms are indicative of serious side effects, likely related to the medication's impact on the nervous system, particularly the basal nuclei and the regulation of dopamine. It's essential in such cases to consult a healthcare professional for proper assessment and management, which could include stopping the medication, lower the dose, or switching to an alternative with fewer side effects.