Atypical antipsychotics

• Regimen


  • Clozapine - no injection, 300-450mg daily
  • Risperidone - tablets, syrup, injection, 4-8mg, max 12mg daily
• Overview

  • Newer drugs - maintain or improve effectiveness and side effects of typical antipsychotics
• Clozapine


  • Acts on dopamine, glutamine and serotonin to improve mood
  • Binds to dopamine receptors as chlorpromazine does
  • Acts on serotonin and glutamine receptors too
  • More effective than typical antipsychotics - reduces depression and anxiety, improves cognitive functioning and mood
• Risperidone


  • Effective as Clozapine, but safer
  • 1990s - Clozapine involved with deaths from agranulocytosis - blood condition
  • Binds to dopamine receptors
  • Stronger bind, more effective in smaller doses, fewer side effects