Antipsychotics
Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.
Mental Healthneeds review
Antipsychotics
Examples: haloperidol, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine
Mechanism
Modulates dopamine and other neurotransmitters to reduce psychosis, agitation, or mania.
Used for
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar mania
- Severe agitation per protocol
Side effects
- EPS
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Sedation
- Metabolic syndrome
- QT prolongation
Nursing actions
- Monitor movement symptoms, temperature, rigidity, and mental status.
- Use therapeutic communication and least restrictive safety measures.
- Track weight, glucose, lipids, and ECG risk when ordered.
Hold / question cues
- High fever with rigidity
- Severe EPS
- Marked QT prolongation
Antidote / reversal
- benztropine or diphenhydramine for EPS per order
NCLEX pearl
- NMS is fever plus rigidity plus autonomic instability: stop and escalate.