Atypical antipsychotic

Atypical antipsychotics, also called second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), are a group of medicines used to treat mental health problems. They help people with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric disorders.

Definition

Atypical antipsychotics are newer medicines that treat psychosis and other mental health conditions. They work differently from older antipsychotics (called first-generation antipsychotics or FGAs) and often have fewer side effects.

History

The first atypical antipsychotic, clozapine, was made in the 1960s. More atypical antipsychotics were created in the 1990s. They became popular because they helped with symptoms and had fewer movement-related side effects than older medicines.

How Atypical Antipsychotics Work

These medicines are thought to work in the brain by:

• Changing how certain chemicals (called neurotransmitters) work.
• Affecting dopamine, which helps control movement and feelings.
• Also affecting serotonin, which is involved in mood and thinking.
• Having different effects on other brain chemicals, which can lead to different side effects for each medicine.

Types of Atypical Antipsychotics

Some common atypical antipsychotics are:

• Aripiprazole (Abilify)
• Quetiapine (Seroquel)
• Risperidone (Risperdal)
• Brexpiprazole (Rexulti)
• Cariprazine (Vraylar)
• Clozapine (Clozaril)
• Lurasidone (Latuda)
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Paliperidone (Invega)
• Ziprasidone (Geodon)

Uses

Doctors use atypical antipsychotics to treat:

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Severe depression (sometimes)
• Autism (for some symptoms)
• Tourette syndrome
• Other psychiatric conditions

How They Are Given

Atypical antipsychotics come in different forms:

• Pills
• Liquid
• Injections (some types)
• Orally disintegrating tablets (that melt in the mouth)
• Long-acting injections (given every few weeks or months)

Patients usually take them every day, but some are given as injections that last weeks or months.

Side Effects

Like all medicines, atypical antipsychotics can cause side effects:

• Weight gain and metabolic changes (like diabetes and high cholesterol)
• Feeling sleepy or dizzy
• Dry mouth or constipation
• Blurred vision
• Faster heartbeat
• Changes in how the body moves (called extrapyramidal symptoms)
• Increased prolactin levels (a hormone)