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.
Individual drug cards
Related study cards
Shows conditions, glossary terms, Drive entities, and source-linked cards connected to this medication class.
Source entitymedication class
Antipsychotics
Use this medication class topic as a source-linked NCLEX review card for priority assessment, medication safety, client teaching, and first nursing action decisions.
Drugmedication class
Haloperidol (Haldol)
Fever plus rigidity plus autonomic instability suggests NMS.
Conditionmedication safety
Bipolar disorder
Grandiosity, pressured speech, little sleep.
Conditionmedication safety
Schizophrenia
Ask what the voices are saying.