Antipsychotic drugs antipsychotics effects

Most antipsychotic drugs have effects on the heart as a consequence of their pharmacological actions. Recently, thioridazine has been subjected to a restricted indication notice and the atypical antipsychotic sertindole had its licence withdrawn because of concerns about its potential cardiotoxicity. 

Kane JM. Antipsychotic drug side effects their relationship to dose. J Clin Psychiatry 1985 46(5 Pt 2) 16-21. 

Primary drug Secondary drug ANTIPSYCHOTICS Effect Mechanism Precautions... 

Phenothiazine antipsychotic drugs Anticholinergic effects Ca " channel blockade ... 

SHORT-TERM TREATMENT The antipsychotic drugs are effective in acute psychoses of unknown etiology, including mania, acute idiopathic psychoses, and acute exacerbations of schizophrenia. The best studied indications are for the acute and chronic phases of schizophrenia and in acute mania. Antipsychotic drugs also are used empirically in many other neuromedical and idiopathic disorders with prominent psychotic symptoms or severe agitation. 

Many of the side effects associated with antipsychotic agents can be attributed to their antagonist activity at a variety of CNS receptors, which include histamine Hi, adrenergic 01/02, cholinergic Mi receptors, serotonin 5-HT2, and dopamine D2 receptors in the brain. For example, antipsychotic drug side effects such as sedation. 

The documentation is limited. The manufacturers of flupentixoP and haloperidol warn that, in common with other antipsychotic drugs, the effects of alcohol maybe enhanced. Warn patients that if they drink alcohol while taking chlorpromazine, and to a lesser extent flupenthixol, sulpiride or thioridazine (probably other related drugs as well), they may become very drowsy, and should not drive or handle other potentially dangerous machinery. Some risk is possible with any antipsychotic that causes drowsiness, including those used as antiemetics, such as prochlorperazine. 

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