Receptor pharmacology of neuroleptics

The term 'neuroleptic' originated from animal experiments--these drugs caused profound sedation and abnormal posturing as if the animal had been 'seized' (Greek 'lepsis', meaning seizure). All early neuroleptic drugs had antipsychotic actions and vice versa. Now there are drugs which are potent antipsychotics without the classic neuroleptic actions known as atypical neuroleptics.