Final answer:
The nurse should discuss with the provider to potentially change to alternative antipsychotic medications such as Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Aripiprazole, Clozapine, or Asenapine, which have different forms of administration and may be better tolerated by the client.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to alternatives for a client who is unable to tolerate ziprasidone due to difficulty swallowing oral medication and agitation with injectable administration. The nurse should consider contacting the provider to discuss a change to another antipsychotic medication that may have different administration options or better tolerability for the client.
Some possible alternatives include:
- Olanzapine: Available in oral, disintegrating tablet, and injectable forms.
- Quetiapine: Available in oral form and may be easier to swallow due to its tablet size.
- Aripiprazole: Available in oral forms, including a dissolvable tablet, and long-acting injectable.
- Clozapine: Available in oral form and as a dissolvable tablet, but requires monitoring due to a risk of agranulocytosis, a potentially severe side effect.
- Asenapine: Available as a sublingual tablet, which may be an option if the client has difficulty swallowing.
It is essential to tailor the medication choice to the client's specific needs, which includes consideration of the classes of antipsychotics, mode of administration, side effect profiles, and any other individual considerations.