A nurse is caring for a client who has a serious mental illness and has developed tardive dyskinesia from anti-psychotic medication use. Which of the following adverse effects from anti-psychotic medication use would be expected for the client?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Nausea and vomiting. While some antipsychotic medications may cause gastrointestinal side effects, nausea and vomiting are not characteristic of tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia specifically affects involuntary motor control. B. Hallucinations and delusions. These are symptoms of psychotic disorders, not side effects of tardive dyskinesia. While some antipsychotic medications can cause paradoxical worsening of psychosis, tardive dyskinesia primarily involves involuntary movements rather than psychiatric symptoms. C. Seizures and tremors. Some antipsychotics lower the seizure threshold, increasing seizure risk, while tremors are more associated with drug-induced parkinsonism. However, these are different from the repetitive, involuntary movements seen in tardive dyskinesia. D. Uncontrolled movements around the mouth. Tardive dyskinesia is a serious side effect of long-term antipsychotic use, characterized by involuntary movements, especially around the mouth, tongue, and face (e.g., lip smacking, tongue protrusion, and grimacing). These movements can become permanent, making early detection and intervention crucial.