The promise of new drugs for schizophrenia treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To present aspects of preclinical and clinical pharmacology of new antipsychotic drugs and to emphasize those preclinical drug characteristics which might predict desirable clinical actions.


METHODS
Review of the relevant literature and publicly presented data.


RESULTS
Traditional neuroleptics have considerable effectiveness in treating positive symptoms of psychosis but can cause serious motor side effects. Clozapine produces no motor side effects and delivers a unique antipsychotic action. Risperidone also produces low motor side effects, but only at relatively low doses. Olanzapine and sertindole are newly introduced. Both have potent antipsychotic actions, with greatly reduced motor side effects. Both drugs also have possible advantages in negative symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the conclusion that several new antipsychotics are becoming available for general use which are safe and effective in the treatment of psychosis and have several advantages over traditional neuroleptics.
Tamminga
C A
CA
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Baltimore 21228, USA.
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D007211:Indoles; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010890:Pirenzepine; C066304:sertindole; D003024:Clozapine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine