COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF PSYCHOTROPICS
Goals:
1. To familiarize health care providers with side effects of antipsychotic
medications.
2. To teach healthcare providers the appropriate response when observing
these side effects.
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)- consists of both dyskinesia and dystonias.
Residents can have both dyskinesia and dystonias at the same time.
Dyskinesia refers to involuntary movements that are stereotyped, that is,
movements which resident repeats over and over in the same way.
Examples:
 Chewing movements or repetitive hand movements
 Smacking and purse their lips and work their tongues in rhythmic
motions
 Rapid eye blinking, involuntary closing of the eyes
 Shaking or jerking of the arms or legs
Dystonia refers to involuntary abnormal posture or involuntary muscle
contractions.
Tremors-quivering, involuntary shaking
Akathesia-Residents with akathesia report a feeling of inner restlessness,
sometimes described as if bugs were crawling under their skin. They find it
hard to sit still, but rather place restlessly, often shuffle their feet. If they are
sitting, they want to stand. They appear to be agitated.
Parkinsonism-A variable combination of slowness and rigidity, a stooped,
shuffling gait with reduced arm swinging, and loss of facial expression (i.e.
“masked face”)
Other symptoms associated with psychotropics:
 Lightheadedness
 Orthostatic hypotension
 Drooling
 Tachycardia
 These residents can have increased incidents of falls
 Swallowing difficulties
If adverse effects of psychotropic medications are detected early, it is
possible they may be reversed with a reduced dose or a change in
medication. Although a different medication or a reduced dose may not be
appropriate for some patients, other patients may benefit by health care
providers’ familiarity with these adverse effects. If any of these side effects
are observed, it is important to notify the charge nurse, pharmacist, or the
physician.
PSYCHOTROPIC IN-SERVICE TEST
1. Which side effects of psychotropics is described as inner restlessness,
which results in resident not being able to sit still:
A. Tremors
B. Tardive Dyskinesia
C. Akathesia
D. Parkinsonism
2. Which of the following can also be side effects of psychotropics:
A. Orthostatic hypotension
B. Tremors
C. Drooling
D. Increased incidence of falls
E. All of the above
3. Which side effects of psychotropics are described as rapid eye
blinking, shaking, or jerking of the arms or legs:
A. Tremor
B. Dyskinesia
C. Dystonia
D. Akathesia
4. Which side effects of psychotropics are described as stooped,
shuffling gait with reduced arm swing:
A. Tremor
B. Dyskinesia
C. Parkinsonism
D. Akathesia
5. Adverse effects of psychotropics may possible be reversed with a
reduced dose or a change in medication.
A. True
B. False
6. If you observe any of these side effects, you should
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