Treatment-emergent adverse events associated with atypical antipsychotics.
BACKGROUND
Atypical antipsychotics provide broad-spectrum effectiveness for the acute and/or preventative treatment of disparate psychiatric disorders. Atypical antipsychotics offer improved efficacy in some psychopathological domains when compared with typical antipsychotics. Notwithstanding, atypicals are not a catholicon and are associated with clinically significant and treatment-limiting side effects (e.g., extrapyramidal symptoms and weight gain).


METHODS
This article reviews commonly encountered adverse events attributable to the use of atypical antipsychotic agents. This review aims to provide a current overview of common adverse events associated with atypical agents with a particular emphasis on adverse events that frequently lead to treatment discontinuation (e.g., changes in weight, metabolism, extrapyramidal side effects, neuroendocrine changes, blood dyscrasias, and cardiovascular toxicity).


CONCLUSIONS
Atypicals are not a catholicon and are associated with clinically significant and treatment-limiting side effects (e.g., extrapyramidal symptoms and weight gain). Improving the utility of these agents requires a familiarity and understanding of the heterogeneous tolerability and safety profiles of atypical agents as well as the therapeutic evidence for their efficacy.
University of Toronto, Department of Psychiatry, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Danielle S
DS
Cha
Roger S
RS
McIntyre
D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D056737:Safety-Based Drug Withdrawals
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents