BOF: 2.46
A 28-year-old male who has recently been started on
trifluoperazine for treatment of schizophrenia presents complaining of a
feeling of severe restlessness.
He cannot sit still and is continuously fidgeting with
his clothes and stamping his feet as if he is marching. On examination there
is no neurological abnormality
In managing this condition you would:
a)
Stop trifluoperazine and give him chlorpromazine instead
b)
Add on benzhexol
c)
Treat with tetrabenazine
d)
Ask him to take two units of alcohol every day
e)
Treat with propranolol
Answer:
e)
The patient has akathisia, which can occur when a patient
is treated with antipsychotic medication.
In the management of this condition one may try changing
to a newer class of antipsychotic (atypical antipsychotic) or try a lipophilic
beta-blocker such as propranolol
