A patient has taken many conventional antipsychotic drugs over the years. The health care provider, who is concerned about early signs of tardive dyskinesia, prescribes risperidone (Risperdal) . A nurse planning care for this patient understands that second generation antipsychotics:

A) are less costly.
B) have higher potency.
C) are more readily available.
D) produce fewer motor side effects.

Second generation antipsychotic drugs often exert their action on the limbic system rather than the basal ganglia. The limbic system is not involved in motor disturbances. Atypical antipsychotic medications are not more readily available. They are not considered to be of higher potency; rather, they have different modes of action. Second generation antipsychotic drugs tend to be more expensive.