mental health disorders
Antipsychotic Drugs
Types of Antipsychotic Drugs
Antipsychotic drugs are divided into two groups: First-generation (conventional, older) antipsychotics Second-generation (newer) antipsychotics Currently, about 95% of antipsychotics prescribed in the United States are second-generation antipsychotics. Doctors have thought that second-generation antipsychotics were somewhat more effective, but recent evidence casts doubt on this. They may have lower likelihood of some of the more serious adverse effects of first-generation drugs. Second-generation antipsychotic drugs may relieve positive symptoms (such as hallucinations), negative symptoms (such as lack of emotion), and cognitive impairment (such as reduced mental functioning and attention span). However, doctors are not sure whether they relieve symptoms to a greater extent than the older antipsychotic drugs or whether people are just more likely to take them because they have fewer side effects. Clozapine,the first of the second-generation antipsychotic drugs, is effective in up to half of people who do not respond to other antipsychotic drugs. However,clozapinecan have serious side effects, such as seizures or potentially fatal suppression of bone marrow activity (which includes making white blood cells). Thus, it is usually used only for people who have not responded to other antipsychotic drugs. In the United States, people who takeclozapinemust have their white blood cell count measured weekly, at least for the first 6 months, so thatclozapinecan be stopped at the first indication that the number of white blood cells is decreasing. Some conventional and second-generation antipsychotics are available as long-acting injectable preparations that need to be given only once every month or two. These preparations are useful for many people, including those who cannot reliably take oral drugs every day. Antipsychotics with novel actions are currently being studied and may become available. 