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Atypical Antipsychotics

A-Tipi Ant-Tie-Psychiatrist

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Atypical antipsychotics are a class tranquilizing drugs used to treat psychiatric conditions. Common indications for these drugs are the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, mania, Tourette's syndrome, bipolar disorder, OCD and depression. The mechanism of action for this drug class is not entirely understood, but it is known that there are varied effects on 5HT₂, dopamine, α, and H₁ receptors. These drugs have less anticholinergic and extrapyramidal side effects than their typical counterparts, but can still cause seizure, prolonged QT syndrome, agranulocytosis and weight gain. Examples of atypical antipsychotic drugs are olanzapine, clozapine, quetiapine, risperdone, aripiprazole and ziprasidone.

8 KEY FACTS

Atypical antipsychotics are used for schizophrenia (both positive and negative symptoms), and can also be indicated for bipolar disorder, OCD, anxiety, depression, Tourette's syndrome and mania.

The pharmacology behind these drugs is unclear and the mechanism of action behind each drug varies. They are known to have varied effects on 5HT₂, dopamine, α, and H₁ receptors.

Clozapine must be closely monitored, as it causes this side effect. 3-5% percent of patients on this drug experience seizures.

The medication Ziprasidone has been tied to the side effect of prolonged QT interval.

Clozapine is a commonly used atypical antipsychotic which can cause agranulocytosis. Patients require weekly WBC monitoring, as 1.3% of patients on Clozapine medication develop this side effect.

Olanzapine and Clozapine have been known to cause weight gain in patients.

Atypical antipsychotics have a more favorable side effect profile, with less extrapyramidal side effects when compared to typical antipsychotics.

In comparison to typical antipsychotics, these medications are better tolerated because they cause fewer anticholinergic effects.

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