Understanding Atypical Antipsychotics

Oct 18, 2024

Lecture on Atypical Antipsychotics

Overview

  • Atypical antipsychotics are used to treat psychosis in schizophrenia and other disorders.
  • Also serve as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder.

Mnemonic for Atypical Antipsychotics

  • Painting of The Scream: Symbol for psychosis.
  • Atypical Setting: Represents atypical antipsychotics (setting of a painting in an apartment).

Key Drugs and Associations

  • Clozapine: Closet in the apartment (Clozapine → Closet).
  • Olanzapine: Lance in costume closet (Olanzapine → Lance).
  • Aripiprazole: AirPods in music (Aripiprazole → AirPods).
  • Risperidone: Whispering (Risperidone → Whisperadone).
  • Quetiapine: Shushing (Quetiapine → Quiet).
  • Ziprasidone: Zipper on the purse (Ziprasidone → Zipper).

Clinical Uses

  • First-line treatment for schizophrenia:
    • Treats both positive (hallucinations, delusions) and negative symptoms (flat affect, antisocial behavior).
  • Bipolar disorder:
    • Mood-stabilizing effects, e.g., Risperidone.
  • Other uses:
    • Treat psychosis postpartum and in dementia.

Side Effects

  • Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS):
    • Movement disorders: tremors, muscle spasms, restlessness.
    • Tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, akathisia.
  • Metabolic Syndrome:
    • Weight gain and high blood sugar.
  • Sedation:
    • Drowsiness, advised to avoid other sedatives.
  • Anticholinergic Effects:
    • Dry mouth, blurry vision, tachycardia, constipation.
  • Agranulocytosis (specific to Clozapine):
    • Fall in white blood cells, risk for infections.
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS):
    • Medical emergency: muscle rigidity, fever, altered mental status.
  • Torsade de Pointe (specific to Ziprasidone):
    • Prolonged QT interval, life-threatening arrhythmia.

Conclusion

  • Atypical antipsychotics are crucial in treating psychosis and mood disorders, but they come with significant side effects.
  • Important to monitor patients for agranulocytosis, NMS, and cardiac issues with specific drugs.

Summary of Drugs

  • Clozapine, Olanzapine, Aripiprazole, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Ziprasidone.

For more resources and detailed explanations, refer to additional educational materials or resources.