Antipsychotic medication is used in schizophrenia, severe depression, elation (in bipolar disorder), and other conditions. These medications offer many benefits provided they are used with care and consideration.

The first effective antipsychotic, chlorpromazine, was developed in the 1950s. It was soon apparent that these medications could have side effects, including movement problems (restlessness), dry mouth, constipation, sedation, effects on the heart, and various other concerns (dizziness, sexual dysfunction).

Several strategies were introduced to manage these issues. The research focused on developing new treatments that would combine good clinical effects with fewer side effects. A series of ‘second-generation’ or ‘atypical’ antipsychotics was duly developed and introduced to clinical practice. These are widely used today.

There is now a broad range of antipsychotic medications available. ‘Atypical’ antipsychotics include risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, amisulpride, ziprasidone, and paliperidone. These medications are effective but some have concerning side-effects, such as weight gain and other effects on body function.

Overall, each antipsychotic has........

© Psychology Today