Which medication requires titration in an inpatient setting?

Prepare for the New Zealand State Nursing Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and explanations. Get prepared to excel in your test!

Clozapine is the medication that requires titration in an inpatient setting primarily due to its safety profile and the need for close monitoring of side effects. It is effective in treating resistant schizophrenia but can cause significant side effects, including agranulocytosis, which is a potentially life-threatening decrease in white blood cell count.

Because of these risks, initiating treatment with clozapine necessitates careful dosage adjustments, or titration, to minimize the risk of harm while achieving therapeutic levels progressively. Titration is essential in closely observing the patient's response to the medication and managing any adverse effects effectively, ensuring that the patient remains within a safe therapeutic window.

Overall, the necessity for inpatient titration of clozapine revolves around the balance of efficacy and safety, given its unique pharmacological properties and potential for severe side effects, which make close monitoring critical during the initiation phase.

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