Risperdal atypical antipsychotic medications

Social workers need to be aware of the other atypical antipsychotic medications, such as risperidone, olanzipine and quentiapine. Risperidone (Risperdal) was introduced as the first official atypical antipsychotic medi-... 

Atypical antipsychotics may be helpful in managing the delusions and agitated behavior that can accompany dementia. These medications, include risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel), ziprasidone (Geodon), aripiprazole (Abilify), and olanzapine (Zyprexa). All antipsychotics, typical and atypical, appear to increase the risk of death in patients with dementia and psychosis. This appears as a warning in the package inserts of the newer drugs. A prudent approach is to discuss this risk with the caregiver, use the lowest effective dose, and monitor for effectiveness. 

Several newer antipsychotic medications have been developed that seem different or atypical, compared with their predecessors. These agents include clozapine (Clozaril), risperidone (Risperdal), and several others listed in Tables 8-1 and 8-2. Although there is some debate about what exactly defines these drugs as atypical, the most distinguishing feature is that they have a much better side-effect profile, including a decreased risk of producing extrapyramidal (motor) side effects.17,45,57... 

Atypical or nontraditional antipsychotic medications have fewer movement symptoms than the typical antipsychotics. Examples of these medications include (see Table 7.3) clozapine (Clozaril), risperidone (Risperdal), sertindole (Serlect), olanzapine (Zyprexa) and quentiapine (Seroquel). These medications have gained popularity because they appear to have lower EPS proflles and they help individuals to think more clearly and follow directions better, to learn new facts and master new skills, and to interpret emotion more accurately (Lambert, 1998). 

Risperdone (brand name Risperdal) An atypical or nontraditional antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and other types of psychotic features. 

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