For a client with schizophrenia, which medication should the nurse anticipate to be prescribed?

Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia. It works by affecting various neurotransmitters in the brain, primarily dopamine and serotonin, which are thought to be linked to the symptoms of schizophrenia. This medication is effective in managing both positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, and negative symptoms, such as social withdrawal and lack of motivation.

The choice of Risperidone aligns with established treatment protocols for schizophrenia, making it a standard option for clinicians. The medication is well-studied and recognized for its efficacy in reducing the severity of psychotic symptoms.

In contrast, medications like lithium are primarily used for mood stabilization in conditions such as bipolar disorder, while bupropion is an antidepressant that is typically utilized for depression and smoking cessation, and sertraline is an SSRI commonly prescribed for anxiety and depressive disorders but does not address the psychotic symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia. Thus, the effectiveness of Risperidone in treating schizophrenia is what makes it the expected choice for a client with this diagnosis.