NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

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Study for the NAPLEX exam with a comprehensive quiz featuring multiple-choice questions and in-depth explanations. Build your pharmacological knowledge and increase your chances of passing the pharmacist licensure examination!

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What characteristic is shared by high-potency first-generation antipsychotics?

Increased risk of metabolic syndrome
Decreased sedation and increased EPS
No risk of blood dyscrasias
High risk of causing hypertension

The correct answer is: Decreased sedation and increased EPS

High-potency first-generation antipsychotics are known to have a higher likelihood of causing extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) such as dystonia, parkinsonism, and akathisia. This is due to their strong blockage of dopamine receptors in the brain. While they may also cause sedation, they are less likely to do so compared to low-potency antipsychotics. In contrast, low-potency first-generation antipsychotics are more likely to cause sedation and less likely to cause EPS. Other options such as increased risk of metabolic syndrome (A), no risk of blood dyscrasias (C), and high risk of causing hypertension (D) do not specifically apply to all high-potency first-generation antipsychotics, and thus are not shared characteristics among them.