Recent evidence has suggested that atypical antipsychotic drugs regulate synaptic plasticity. We investigated whether some atypical antipsychotic drugs (olanzapine, aripiprazole, quetiapine, and ziprasidone) altered the expression of synapse-associated proteins in rat hippocampal neuronal cultures under toxic conditions induced by B27 deprivation. A typical antipsychotic, haloperidol, was used ...

Temporal changes in the avoidance responses and serum prolactin levels were investigated for a 360 min period after s.c. administration of antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine (2 mg/kg), prochlorperazine (2 mg/kg), haloperidol (0.035 mg/kg), droperidol (0.03 mg/kg), YM-09151-2 (0.005 mg/kg) and sulpiride (80 mg/kg) in rats. Male adult rats of the Wistar strain were trained under a continu...

Pisa syndrome is (PS) usually seen in patients receiving antipsychotic drugs and characterised by lateral flexion of trunk and axial dystonia. It is believed that antipsychotic drugs lead to dopamine blockage causing PS. We describe a Parkinson's disease patient who was doing well with levodopa/carbidopa for 3 years and developed lateral flexion of trunk. His abnormal posture used to completely...

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal adverse reaction to neuroleptics, is known to occur more often in the initial stage of antipsychotic treatment. We describe a patient with chronic schizophrenia who, in a few days after the addition of antituberculotic drugs to his antipsychotic regimen, developed probable NMS without pyrexia. We reasoned that rifampin, a strong hepatic ...

We do not know the indication (which patient for which drug) for one antipsychotic versus another or even that one may be uniquely better for an individual patient. We have some information on overall efficacy and safety, which is a different question. Some who believed secondgeneration antipsychotics (SGAs) as a group were more efficacious than first-generation antipsychotic (FGA) drugs were s...

A b st ra ct Atypical antipsychotic drugs are associated with metabolic disturbances like weight gain, type 2 diabetes hyperglycaemia and dyslipedemia, which can result in serious health risk in patients. Diabetic ketoacidosis resulting in serious metabolic acidosis, occurring in a schizophrenic patient on treatment with clozapine is being reported to draw attention this association. Frequent m...

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but life-threatening idiosyncratic side effect resulting from neuroleptic drugs. NMS mainly occurs in patients treated with high-potency typical antipsychotics, but rarely caused by atypical antipsychotics. Although NMS is less common with atypical antipsychotic, but it seems that its incidence is rising due to increased administration of such drug...

OBJECTIVES This paper gives an overview of studies on the association between dopaminergic neurotransmission and the subjective experience of patients with schizophrenia. METHODS We undertook a review of the literature. RESULTS Dopaminergic neurotransmission may be relevant for subjective experience. Higher striatal D2 receptor occupancy by typical and atypical antipsychotics is related to ...

Clozapine is a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic agent, which has been proven efficient against the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, with a low propensity to induce tardive dyskinesia (TD). Compared with typical antipsychotics, it has a greater affinity for dopamine D4 than D2 receptors and additional action on serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptors. Due to its weak D(2) blocking...

The large body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of acute schizophrenia is selectively reviewed. Research evidence relevant to the following issues is assessed; indications for selective treatment; characteristics of drug responders and nonresponders; indications for high dosage phenothiazine treatment; indications for maintenance therapy; benef...