A nurse explains the role of benztropine when given with chlorpromazine. Which statement correctly describes its purpose?

Prepare for the Hurst Readiness Exam 2 with engaging quizzes, flashcards, and detailed explanations. Master your exam with confidence!

Benztropine is used to counter extrapyramidal symptoms caused by antipsychotics like chlorpromazine. These drugs block dopamine in the nigrostriatal pathway, which tips the balance toward acetylcholine activity in the basal ganglia. That imbalance manifests as stiffness and tremor. Benztropine, an anticholinergic, dampens acetylcholine activity to restore balance, relieving these motor symptoms. Nausea, rash, and weight gain are not addressed by benztropine and are not the purpose of giving it with chlorpromazine.