title: The "neuroleptic" antipsychotic drugs. 1. Mechanisms of action.
abstract: The antipsychotic drugs have provided effective and relatively safe treatment of schizophrenia, paranoid illnesses, and manic-depressive conditions marked by psychotic features. These agents are sometimes called "neuroleptic," as virtually all produce signs of extrapyramidal neurologic disorders in addition to their antipsychotic actions; in part, evidently, the neuroleptic effects are an artifact of the means of screening of potential new agents. These agents have a strong and selective antagonistic action on synaptic mechanisms in the brain mediated by dopamine as a neurotransmitter. This antidopamine action almost certainly contributes importantly to their parkinsonism effect (basal ganglia) and their prolactin-elevating (hypothalamic) effect; in addition, antipsychotic actions may be mediated by antidopamine effects, possibly in limbic and other forebrain centers.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D004298:Dopamine