IMPORTANT EFFECTS OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS IN HUMANS

-Calming psychotic patients without excessive CNS depression; as contrasted to giving a barbiturate to a pt, which will calm the pt but also put him to sleep because of the CNS depression associated with that drug.

-Anti-emetic effects (anti-vomiting).

-Reduce pruritis (itching). The cause of pruritis is not eliminated, but the excessive itching is controlled.

-Extra-pyramidal secondary effects, or Parkinson’s-like effects.

-Good thing: The anti-psychotics are not addictive.


INDICATIONS:

-Schizophrenia -Pruritis

-To reduce agitation -Nausea

KINETICS:

-Given by mouth (P.O.). The ½ life is 8-9 hours, so they must be given 2-3 times/day.


ADVERSE EFFECTS:

Extrapyramidal disturbances such as Tardive Dyskinesia (uncontrolled movement of the tongue), Parkinsonian rigidity, and motor restlessness.

Liver toxicity, jaundice, skin-rash, aggravation of alcohol-induced depression, and endocrine effects can also occur.


Haloperidol (Butyrophenone) is stronger than phenothiazine, and is used if phenothiazine is ineffective. It still has the problem of extra-pyramidal effects.



Another drug that seems more promising and is an atypical antipsychotic, is Clozapine.

The advantage of Clozapine and other atypical antipsychotics is that the extrapyramidal effects are decreased. So if the psychiatrist is careful with the dosing of these drugs, he can control the psychosis without extrapyramidal effects. Remember, you are not curing schizophrenia, you are only controlling it; you can think of it like a straightjacket.

Category: Pharmacology Notes