Neuroleptics development

The role of fluonne in the development of CNS agents has been reviewed [14] Ruonnated phenothiazines, typified by fluphenazine (7[Pg.1121]

The antipsychotic activity of neuroleptics (D2-like receptor antagonists) has led to the development of many different ligands for the D2 receptor. These drugs... 

Importantly, they achieve this without inducing extrapyramidal side-effects or increasing prolactin secretion, which are real problems with neuroleptics. These results have been borne out by preliminary clinical trials of buspirone, used in combination with neuroleptics, and several novel S-HTja agonists (e.g. BSF 190555) are currently under development for this clinical application (Meltzer 1999). 

Reference has been made already to the shortcomings of the term neuroleptic . We now have a situation in which the drugs that are most useful in schizophrenia are regarded as atypical. While the term was introduced to cover those neuroleptics that do not cause EPSs, it has become synonymous with clozapine which has additional advantages over other neuroleptics (e.g. reduces negative symptoms, see text). Thus it is not always clear what is meant or covered by atypical. Hopefully this distinction between the neuroleptics will become unnecessary as better compounds are developed and the older ones become obsolete. 

Some neuroleptics, including clozapine, are potent 5-HT-receptor antagonists and the possible role of 5-HT in the action of neuroleptics and the development of schizophrenia has recently generated much interest (Busatto and Kerwin 1997). This has centred primarily on 5-HT2A receptors found in the limbic cortex, which are linked to neuronal excitation and believed to mediate the hallucinogenic effects of drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). 

The mechanism by which 5-HT2 antagonism could ameliorate schizophrenic symptoms and what effect 5-HT has on mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways through A10 neurons is even less certain. It is more likely that 5-HT s action occurs postsynaptically in the limbic system or PFC. The probability that neuroleptics benefit from a particular balance of DA and 5-HT2A antagonism is developed later. 

The patient may be alert and oriented, withdrawn or lethargic, or have an acute brain syndrome. There is a high incidence of rhabdomyolysis and hyperthermia in PCP-induced catatonic syndrome. Some patients have the neuroleptic malignant syndrome or develop it after administration of haloperidol. 

Once neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) develops, signs and symptoms may escalate over 24—72 h and may have a prolonged clinical course... 

Chlorpromazine is technically described as a phenothiazine, as are thioridazine and fluphenazine. Together with their structural analogues the thioxanthenes (e.g., clopenthixol) and the butyrophenones (e.g., haloperidol), the phenothiazines comprise the three major families of typical neuroleptics. They were developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s (Table 11.3). All these drugs block dopamine receptors, principally the D2 subtypes, with an affinity that correlates highly (r = +0.90) with their clinical... 

Patients who have received neuroleptics for long periods of time may develop a hyperkinetic disorder of the extrapyramidal system characterized by involuntary, purposeless movements affecting many parts of the body. This is known as tardive dyskinesia. Most commonly, these are manifested in a syndrome involving abnormal movements of the tongue, mouth and masticatory muscles. There are also choreoathetoid movements of the extremities. The mechanism by which these symptoms develop remains unknown. 

Areca may interact adversely with antipsychotic medications (Deahl 1989). Two cases have been reported of schizophrenic patients who were taking neuroleptics and developed severe extrapyramidal symptoms after areca chewing. Given the functional antagonism between dopamine and acetylcholine in the striatum, it is likely that arecoline amplified the dyskinetic effect of neuroleptic medications. 

An alternative to neuroleptics would be to develop partial DA receptor agonists. Such agonists will preferentially stimulate the sensitive D2 autoreceptors and block the less sensitive postsynaptic D2 receptors. Still, such compounds should have a some degree of intrinsic efficacy for the postsynaptic DA receptors in order not to be cataleptogenic [13]. Neuroleptic-induced catalepsy in rats is considered to be predictive for the precipitation of EPS in the clinic. There are now quite a few partial D2 receptor agonists under clinical evaluation (see below), and the near future will show whether this approach offers some advantage over the classical neuroleptics, which all potently block postsynaptic DA receptors. 

In SUMMARY, it would appear that a detailed knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of the main groups of psychotropic drugs is only of very limited clinical use. This is due to limitations in the methods for the detection of some drugs (e.g. the neuroleptics), the presence of active metabolites which make an important contribution to the therapeutic effect, particularly after chronic administration (e.g. many antidepressants, neuroleptics and anxiolytics), and the lack of a direct correlation between the plasma concentration of the drug and its therapeutic effect. Perhaps the only real advances will be made in this area with the development of brain imaging techniques whereby the concentrations of the active drug in the... 

Acute dystonias occur immediately after neuroleptization and are manifested by motor impairments, particularly in the head, neck, and shoulder region. After several days to months, a parkinsonian syndrome (pseudoparkinsonism) or akathisia (motor restlessness) may develop. All these disturbances can be treated by administration of antiparkin-son drugs of the anticholinergic type, such as biperiden (i.e., in acute dystonia). As a rule, these disturbances disappear after withdrawal of neuroleptic medication. Tardive dyskinesia may become evident after chronic neuroleptization for several years, particularly when the drug is discontinued. It is due to hypersensitivity of the dopamine receptor system and can be exacerbated by administration of anticholinergics. 

Tardive dyskinesia Tardive dyskinesia, a syndrome consisting of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements may develop in patients treated with neuroleptics (eg, antipsychotics). Amoxapine is not an antipsychotic, but it has substantive neuroleptic activity. 

Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) Dystonic reactions develop primarily with the use of traditional antipsychotics. EPS has occurred during the administration of haloperidol and pimozide frequently, often during the first few days of treatment. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) A potentially fatal symptom complex sometimes referred to as NMS has been reported in association with administration of antipsychotic drugs. Clinical manifestations of NMS are hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and evidence of autonomic instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, tachycardia, diaphoresis, cardiac dysrhythmia). Additional signs may include elevated creatine phosphokinase, rhabdomyolysis, and acute renal failure. 

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