Certified Medication Aide Practice

How do anti-psychotics primarily function in the body?

1. Relax muscles and decrease pain

2. Treat allergies

3. Suppress coughing

4. Work by calming specific areas of the brain to treat psychoses

The correct answer is: Work by calming specific areas of the brain to treat psychoses

Anti-psychotic medications primarily work by calming specific areas of the brain to treat psychoses. They are commonly used to manage symptoms of various mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder by targeting neurotransmitters in the brain to help regulate mood, thought processes, and behaviors. This mechanism of action differs from the other options provided: A. Relax muscles and decrease pain: This statement describes muscle relaxants or pain medications, which work by targeting the nervous system to reduce muscle tension or alleviate pain, rather than specifically targeting the brain areas affected by psychoses. B. Treat allergies: Allergy medications typically work by blocking the action of histamine to alleviate symptoms such as sneezing, itching, or nasal congestion due to allergic reactions. This mechanism is unrelated to the action of anti-psychotics. C. Suppress coughing: Cough suppressants work by inhibiting the cough reflex in the brain, usually through acting on the medulla oblongata. This function is distinct from the way anti-psychotics target specific areas of the brain to treat psychoses.