Receptor mechanisms of antipsychotic drug atypicality.
Recent advances in antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia have offered several new compounds which avoid many of the limitations of the classical antipsychotics. These so-called 'atypical' antipsychotics have fewer extrapyramidal side effects, greater efficacy against negative symptoms and greater efficacy in otherwise treatment-resistant patients. However, the mechanism of action of these atypical antipsychotics is still unclear. The several receptors currently implicated in the pharmacological profile of these atypical antipsychotics include subtypes of those for dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, and acetylcholine among others. The current hypotheses for possible mechanisms of action of atypical antipsychotics are discussed along with the experimental correlates of antipsychotic efficacy in animal models.
Reynolds
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