Antipsychotics

Treating Anxiety with Antipsychotics and Anticonvulsants

The benzodiazepines have been the mainstay of anxiety management for several decades now. In the past decade or two, the antidepressants, particularly the serotonin agents, have entered the picture when it comes to managing anxiety pharmacologically. Both benzodiazepines and contemporary antidepressants are FDA-approved for anxiety treatment and are most often employed in the “worried-well” with often vague symptoms of anxiety that fall into the generalized type. […]

2013-10-23T14:53:45+00:00
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Saphris (asenapine) Linked to Potentially Severe Allergic Reactions

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning regarding possible severe allergic reactions to the second-generation antipsychotic Saphris. According to this FDA warning, reported signs and symptoms include anaphylaxis, angioedema (swelling below the surface of the skin), hypotension, tachycardia, swollen tongue, difficulty breathing and rash. The FDA also indicates that the drug’s label has been modified to include information about this risk. My concern with these atypical antipsychotics is what will unfold from an adverse event standpoint [...]

2011-10-09T17:04:29+00:00
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Unapproved Use of Antipsychotics: An Ever-Growing Concern

In 1996, the three second-generation antipsychotics FDA approved at that time – Clozaril, Risperdal and Zyprexa – were prescribed for patients with anxiety disorders in 10 percent of office visits. The bulk of the prescribing for anxiety was with Risperdal and Zyprexa because Clozaril was not (and still isn’t) considered a first-line agent of choice due to potentially serious concerns with agranulocytosis. A decade later, in 2006, prescribing had more than doubled for the treatment of anxiety despite absolutely no [...]

2011-09-06T01:12:59+00:00
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Updates on Second-Generation Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics developed after 1990 are referred to as second-generation agents because they act on different neuroreceptor sites compared to their first-generation (Thorazine, Haldol, Stelazine, Navane, Mellaril, etc.) counterparts. Specifically, the SGAs block both dopamine and serotonin receptors and are more different from each other than they are alike. SGAs have fewer movement-related side effects. They also seem to have mood stabilizing effects that the FGAs do not possess. The main reason for using these newer antipsychotics is that patients tolerate [...]

2011-06-30T13:28:58+00:00
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Antipsychotics and Kids: The Controversy Goes On and On

On December 4, 2009, the FDA approved the use of two more antipsychotic medications -- Zyprexa and Seroquel -- for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in teens. Risperdal and Abilify are also specifically approved for the same use in this age group. In association with the approval of Zyprexa and Seroquel, the FDA also stated it wants to know more about the risk of weight gain and diabetes in youth taking these drugs and other antipsychotics as well. It has [...]

2020-04-16T20:14:27+00:00
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Saphris (asenapine): A New Entry Into the Ever-Growing Antipsychotic Mix

On August 14, 2009, the FDA approved Saphris (asenapine) as a new second-generation antipsychotic for the treatment of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is available only as a sublingual tablet, meaning that it is not effective if swallowed, and it must be left under the tongue to dissolve for it to be absorbed into the bloodstream. The available studies haven’t shown that Saphris (asenapine) provides any unique therapeutic advantage over other second-generation antipsychotics. The main contribution is that clinicians [...]

2017-01-29T15:57:16+00:00
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