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compiled by Kevin Furmaga, Pharm.D
Antipsychotics are medications traditionally used to treat hallucinations
and delusional thinking (schizophrenia). Newer medications in this class,
referred to as atypical antipsychotics, are much less likely to cause
the movement side effects of older agents. They are also effective for
mood symptoms and are commonly used in combination with antidepressants
and mood stabilizers to treat resistant depression and mania symptoms.
Older Antipsychotics
| Generic (Common) Name |
|
Brand Name |
| Chlorpromazine |
|
Thorazine |
| Fluphenazine |
|
Prolixin |
| Haloperidol |
|
Haldol |
| Loxapine |
|
Loxitane |
| Mesoridazine |
|
Serentil |
| Molindone |
|
Moban |
| Perphenazine |
|
Trilafon |
| Thioridazine |
|
Mellaril |
| Thiothixene |
|
Navane |
| Trifluoperazine |
|
Stelazine |
Newer (Atypical) Antipsychotics
| Generic (Common) Name |
|
Brand Name |
| Clozapine |
|
Clozaril |
| Olanzapine |
|
Zyprexa |
| Quetiapine |
|
Seroquel |
| Risperidone |
|
Risperdal |
| Ziprasidone |
|
Geodon |
The newer antipsychotic medications have replaced older antipsychotics
as first line treatment for psychotic symptoms. There are, however, people
with psychotic disorders for whom the older medications work better.
All medications in this group block the chemical messenger, dopamine,
from binding to its receptors on brain cells. These medications have different
effects on many other brain chemical systems such as serotonin, norepinepherine,
acetylcholine, histamine, and others.
Olanzapine (Zyprexa®) has an FDA indication for treating active (acute)
mania symptoms.
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TODAY: Psychopharmacology in the New Millennium
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