Atypical antipsychotic agent

Although atypical antipsychotic agents may cost several times as much as traditional antipsychotics, drug costs in schizophrenia account for only 1-4% of the total treatment cost (Knapp, 1997). The argument then is that a small increase in drug costs— say to 10% of total cost—may result in disproportionate savings in the highly expensive direct hospital costs, if clinical trial... 

Murray, M. (2006). Role of CYP pharmacogenetics and drug-drug interactions in the efficacy and safety of atypical and other antipsychotic agents. /. Pharm. Pharmacol, 58, 871— 85. 

Roth, B. L., Craigo, S. C., Choudhary, M. S. etal. (1994). Binding of typical and atypical antipsychotic agents to 5-hydroxytryptamine- 6 and 5-hydroxytryptamine-7 receptors. /. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 268, 1403-10. 

Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic agent that is not associated with an impact on prolactin levels and is not associated with impotence as a side-effect. It may precipitate suicidal ideation as a side-effect. 

The heterocyclic antipsychotic agent, risperidone, is a benzisoxazole derivative with antiserotoner-gic (5-HT2) as well as antidopaminergic (D2) activity. Risperidone is also considered to be a so-called quantitatively atypical antipsychotic agent because in low doses it has few extrapyramidal effects. 

Five newer, atypical antipsychotics are currently marketed in the United States (Table 26.1). What makes these agents atypical is their reduced propensity to cause EPS and their improved effectiveness in the treatment of... 

Weight gain. Ziprasidone is associated with less weight gain than are other atypical antipsychotic agents. 

Despite the advent of the atypical antipsychotic agents, efforts continue to identify other adjunctive medications that may improve response to standard treatments. In this context, we note that there is no consistent evidence that BZD monotherapy benefits schizophrenia. Another strategy, however, is the addition of BZDs to an antipsychotic regimen. This pharmacological approach is partially based on the evidence that GABA, which is facilitated by BZDs, inhibits certain dopamine tracts and that these medications may attenuate the dopamine system via a different route ( 339, 340, 341 and 342). 

Moore NA, Tye NC, Axton MS, et al. The behavioral pharmacology of olanzapine, a novel atypical antipsychotic agent. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1992 262 545-551. 

Beasley CM, Tollefson G, Tye NC, et al. Olanzapine a potential atypical antipsychotic agent. ProcAm Coll Neuropsychopharmacol 1993 32 23. 

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