Neutropenia can occur with which antipsychotic, among the options listed?

Neutropenia can occur with which antipsychotic, among the options listed?

• A. Haloperidol
• B. Quetiapine
• C. Risperidone
• D. Olanzapine

Answer: (D)

Neutropenia is a drop in neutrophils that raises infection risk. While the strongest association in antipsychotics is with clozapine, which requires routine blood monitoring, other antipsychotics can rarely cause neutropenia as well. Among the options listed, olanzapine has been reported in the literature to be associated with neutropenia, making it the best answer here. The other drugs—haloperidol, quetiapine, and risperidone—have a much lower or less well-recognized risk of neutropenia. If neutropenia is suspected, stop the antipsychotic and obtain a complete blood count to assess neutrophil levels, then manage based on the severity and infection risk.

Neutropenia is a drop in neutrophils that raises infection risk. While the strongest association in antipsychotics is with clozapine, which requires routine blood monitoring, other antipsychotics can rarely cause neutropenia as well. Among the options listed, olanzapine has been reported in the literature to be associated with neutropenia, making it the best answer here. The other drugs—haloperidol, quetiapine, and risperidone—have a much lower or less well-recognized risk of neutropenia.

If neutropenia is suspected, stop the antipsychotic and obtain a complete blood count to assess neutrophil levels, then manage based on the severity and infection risk.