A 28-year old male is admitted with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. His care provider prescribes fluphenazine 10 mg TID. After 9 days, the client remains unkempt and refuses to get out of bed. The nurse knows that fluphenazine

Fluphenazine is a phenothiazine used to treat schizophrenia. It is most effective with positive symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and racing thoughts. This client is displaying some negative symptoms. Other negative symptoms include apathy, lack of emotion, and nonexistent social functioning. The drug takes effect in 3-7 days when administered for positive symptoms. Increasing the dosage or continuing the drug for negative symptoms is not effective. Depression is a common side effect.