Atypical antipsychotics

What are atypical antipsychotics?

Atypical antipsychotics are antipsychotics that are less likely than traditional antipsychotics to cause certain side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). EPS are drug-induced movement disorders and include tremor, Parkinson's-like symptoms (walking with a shuffle, mask-like facial features) and tardive dyskinesia (this describes abnormal, repetitive facial movements such as lip smacking or poking the tongue out).

Most atypical antipsychotics were discovered recently; however, clozapine is often referred to as atypical antipsychotic even though it was discovered more than 60 years ago. Atypical antipsychotics are also known as second generation antipsychotics.

Experts aren’t exactly sure how atypical antipsychotics work but they appear block certain chemical receptors in the brain, affecting levels of various neurotransmitters such as dopamine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline, or serotonin. Atypical antipsychotics appear to have a higher affinity for serotonin receptors and a lower affinity for dopamine receptors than typical antipsychotics.

What are atypical antipsychotics used for?

Atypical antipsychotics are used to relieve symptoms such as delusions (mistaken beliefs), hearing voices, seeing things that aren’t there (hallucinations), or paranoid or confused thoughts typically associated with some mental illnesses.

They may be used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia or a psychotic episode; in the treatment of severe depression; severe agitation or anxiety; or for stabilizing episodes of mania in people with Bipolar Disorder. Some are FDA-approved in children to treat irritability associated with Autistic disorder.

What are the differences between atypical antipsychotics?

Atypical antipsychotics differ in the way that they are absorbed into the body, how they are metabolized, the length of their effect, and how they are excreted. There are also differences between them with regards to:

  • Weight gain: Clozapine appears to have the highest risk followed by olanzapine and quetiapine
  • Reduction in the risk of suicidal events and behavior: Clozapine appears superior to olanzapine
  • Discontinuation because of adverse effects: Clozapine has the highest rate of discontinuation in the short-term but the lowest rate out of any antipsychotic in the long-term (two years or more)
  • Risperidone appears to have higher rates of EPS than olanzapine
  • Risperidone may have higher rates of sexual dysfunction compared with quetiapine, but similar rates when compared with ziprasidone
  • Women may be more responsive to clozapine and olanzapine than men.

With regards to the difference between atypical antipsychotics and typical antipsychotics, atypical antipsychotics are less likely to produce EPS but more likely to cause weight gain. Recently, no difference in effectiveness regarding symptom improvement between atypical antipsychotics and typical antipsychotics has been shown.

Common Atypical Antipsychotics Available in the U.S.

Generic name Brand name examples
aripiprazole Abilify
asenapine Saphris
brexpiprazole Rexulti
cariprazine Vraylar
clozapine Clozaril, FazaClo
iloperidone Fanapt
lurasidone Latuda
olanzapine Zyprexa
paliperidone Invega
quetiapine Seroquel
risperidone Risperdal
ziprasidone Geodon

Are atypical antipsychotics safe?

All medicines have their risks and benefits and atypical antipsychotics are no exception. When taken as prescribed by a doctor in people with no contraindications for their use, atypical antipsychotics are considered safe; however, some, such as clozapine, require ongoing monitoring.

About 1 in 10 people who take clozapine develop neutropenia, which is a loss in the capacity to produce white blood cells needed to fight infection. This could result in a serious infection and potentially, death. Anybody taking clozapine requires regular blood tests to check their blood cell counts. Clozapine may also cause changes in heart rate or blood pressure, constipation, excessive salivation, sedation, or weight gain. However, it does not tend to cause movement-related symptoms such as EPS.

All antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of death when used in elderly people, especially those with dementia, and they are not approved for this use. In addition, atypical antipsychotics may cause changes in metabolism and increase the risk for diabetes and high cholesterol.

What are the side effects of atypical antipsychotics?

Atypical antipsychotics are more likely than typical antipsychotics to cause weight gain and metabolic disturbances including an increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

Other common side effects include:

  • difficulty concentrating or speaking
  • changes in blood pressure
  • constipation
  • difficulty sleeping
  • drooling
  • drowsiness
  • mask-like face
  • restlessness or need to keep moving
  • sexual dysfunction
  • shuffling walk
  • tremor
  • vision problems (blurred or double vision).

All antipsychotics can cause drowsiness. Most antipsychotics are associated with high rates of discontinuation either because of side effects or a lack of effect.

List drug with Atypical antipsychotics

Drug Name
Abilify
Generic name: Aripiprazole (oral)
Abilify (Aripiprazole Intramuscular)
Generic name: Aripiprazole
Abilify (Aripiprazole Oral)
Generic name: Aripiprazole
Abilify Discmelt
Generic name: Aripiprazole
Abilify Maintena
Generic name: Aripiprazole Lauroxil (injection)
Abilify Maintena Prefilled Syringe injection
Generic name: Aripiprazole (injection)
Abilify Mycite
Generic name: Aripiprazole
Abilify MyCite Maintenance Kit oral with sensor
Generic name: Aripiprazole (oral With Sensor)
Abilify MyCite Starter Kit oral with sensor
Generic name: Aripiprazole (oral With Sensor)
Aripiprazole
Generic name: Aripiprazole (oral)
Aripiprazole (Intramuscular)
Generic name: Aripiprazole
Aripiprazole (Oral)
Generic name: Aripiprazole
Aripiprazole injection
Generic name: Aripiprazole (injection)
Aripiprazole lauroxil
Generic name: Aripiprazole Lauroxil
Aripiprazole oral with sensor
Generic name: Aripiprazole (oral With Sensor)
Aristada
Generic name: Aripiprazole Lauroxil (injection)
Aristada Initio
Generic name: Aripiprazole Lauroxil
Aristada Initio injection
Generic name: Aripiprazole (injection)
Aristada injection
Generic name: Aripiprazole (injection)
Asenapine sublingual
Generic name: Asenapine (sublingual)
Asenapine transdermal
Generic name: Asenapine (transdermal)
Clozapine
Generic name: Clozapine
Clozaril
Generic name: Clozapine
Brexpiprazole
Generic name: Brexpiprazole
Caplyta
Generic name: Lumateperone
Cariprazine
Generic name: Cariprazine
Fanapt
Generic name: Iloperidone
Fanapt Titration Pack
Generic name: Iloperidone
Fazaclo
Generic name: Clozapine
Geodon
Generic name: Ziprasidone
Geodon (Ziprasidone Intramuscular)
Generic name: Ziprasidone
Geodon (Ziprasidone Oral)
Generic name: Ziprasidone
Iloperidone
Generic name: Iloperidone
Invega
Generic name: Paliperidone (oral)
Invega Hafyera
Generic name: Paliperidone Palmitate
Invega Hafyera injection
Generic name: Paliperidone (injection)
Invega Sustenna
Generic name: Paliperidone (injection)
Invega Trinza
Generic name: Paliperidone Palminate
Latuda
Generic name: Lurasidone
Lumateperone
Generic name: Lumateperone
Lurasidone
Generic name: Lurasidone
Nuplazid
Generic name: Pimavanserin
Olanzapine
Generic name: Olanzapine (oral)
Olanzapine (Intramuscular)
Generic name: Olanzapine
Olanzapine (Oral)
Generic name: Olanzapine
Olanzapine injection
Generic name: Olanzapine (injection)
Paliperidone
Generic name: Paliperidone (oral)
Paliperidone (Intramuscular)
Generic name: Paliperidone
Paliperidone (Oral)
Generic name: Paliperidone
Paliperidone injection
Generic name: Paliperidone (injection)
Perseris
Generic name: Risperidone
Perseris injection
Generic name: Risperidone (injection)
Pimavanserin
Generic name: Pimavanserin
Quetiapine
Generic name: Quetiapine
Rexulti
Generic name: Brexpiprazole
Risperdal
Generic name: Risperidone (oral)
Risperdal Consta
Generic name: Risperidone (injection)
Risperdal M-Tab
Generic name: Risperidone
Risperidone
Generic name: Risperidone (oral)
Risperidone (Intramuscular, Subcutaneous)
Generic name: Risperidone
Risperidone (Oral)
Generic name: Risperidone
Risperidone injection
Generic name: Risperidone (injection)
RisperiDONE M-Tab
Generic name: Risperidone
Rykindo
Generic name: Risperidone
Saphris
Generic name: Asenapine (sublingual)
Secuado
Generic name: Asenapine
Secuado transdermal
Generic name: Asenapine (transdermal)
Seroquel
Generic name: Quetiapine
Seroquel XR
Generic name: Quetiapine
Uzedy
Generic name: Risperidone (injection)
Uzedy injection
Generic name: Risperidone (injection)
Versacloz
Generic name: Clozapine
Vraylar
Generic name: Cariprazine
Ziprasidone
Generic name: Ziprasidone (oral/injection)
Ziprasidone (Intramuscular)
Generic name: Ziprasidone
Ziprasidone (Oral)
Generic name: Ziprasidone
Zyprexa
Generic name: Olanzapine (oral)
ZyPREXA injection
Generic name: Olanzapine (injection)
Zyprexa IntraMuscular
Generic name: Olanzapine
Zyprexa Relprevv
Generic name: Olanzapine (injection)
Zyprexa Zydis
Generic name: Olanzapine (oral)

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