Final answer:
Benztropine is used to treat the side effects of chlorpromazine, an antipsychotic drug, in managing symptoms of schizophrenia. Chlorpromazine works by blocking dopamine neurotransmission whereas benztropine helps mitigate the motor side effects induced by this dopamine blockade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best response by the nurse to the family member's question about why a schizophrenic client is receiving chlorpromazine and benztropine would be: "Benztropine is given to treat the side effects produced by the chlorpromazine."
Chlorpromazine is an antipsychotic medication used to manage psychosis including symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thought, which are common in schizophrenia. These antipsychotics work by blocking dopamine's effects and reduce the overactive dopamine neurotransmission associated with schizophrenia's symptoms.
However, while chlorpromazine is effective in treating psychotic symptoms, it can also cause side effects similar to those of Parkinson's disease due to its dopamine-blocking effects. Benztropine, an anticholinergic drug, is used to mitigate these motor side effects by blocking the action of acetylcholine, which is thought to become relatively overactive when dopamine activity is suppressed.