Question

A patient with schizophrenia has been taking haloperidol for several years. The care team and the patient have collaborated and chosen to transition the patient to an atypical antipsychotic in an effort to reduce adverse effects and maximize therapeutic effects. In order to reduce the patient's risk of extrapyramidal effects during this transition, the care team should do which of the following?

A. Arrange for weekly electroconvulsive therapy during the time of transition.
B. Have a 2- to 3-week "drug holiday" between stopping the haloperidol and starting the atypical antipsychotic.
C. Administer haloperidol and the atypical antipsychotic drug concurrently for 6 to 8 weeks.
D. Gradually taper the dose of haloperidol.

Answer 1

Answer: the correct answer to your question is D. Gradually tapering the dose of haloperidol can help reduce the risk of extrapyramidal effects during the transition to an atypical antipsychotic .

Step-by-step explanation:

When transitioning a patient with schizophrenia from haloperidol to an atypical antipsychotic, the care team should gradually taper the dose of haloperidol to reduce the patient’s risk of extrapyramidal effects . Extrapyramidal effects are a group of side effects that can occur when taking antipsychotic medications, including haloperidol. These side effects can include muscle stiffness, tremors, and involuntary movements .