Free NCLEX RN Questions on Health Promotion and Maintenance Nursing Practice Question
Which of the following types of antipsychotic medications is most likely to produce extrapyramidal effects?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: First-generation antipsychotic drugs. These medications primarily block dopamine receptors in the brain, leading to extrapyramidal effects such as dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia. These side effects are less common with atypical antipsychotic drugs (choice A) due to their different receptor profiles. Third-generation antipsychotic drugs (choice C) and dopamine system stabilizers (choice D) are newer classes of medications with reduced extrapyramidal effects compared to first-generation drugs. Therefore, the most likely culprit for producing extrapyramidal effects among the options provided is the first-generation antipsychotic drugs.