Question

The nurse is providing care for a pt with schizophrenia who receives haloperidol decanoate 75 mg intramuscularly every 4 weeks. The pt begins developing puckering and smacking of the lips and facial grimacing. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

Answer 1

The nurse should report the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia, possibly caused by haloperidol decanoate, to the healthcare provider for potential medication adjustment or the introduction of medications to relieve the side effects.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question pertains to a patient with schizophrenia who is being treated with haloperidol decanoate and is exhibiting signs of tardive dyskinesia, as evidenced by symptoms like puckering and smacking of the lips and facial grimacing. The nurse should report these symptoms to the healthcare provider immediately as they may indicate a side effect of the medication. A common intervention is to assess the severity of the symptoms and consider the need for medication adjustment or the use of medications such as benztropine or other anticholinergic agents to alleviate these extrapyramidal symptoms.