Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
10:32
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Update on newer antipsychotic drugs
1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. HowlandRH@upmc.edu
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
|March 31, 2011
Summary
Novel atypical antipsychotics like iloperidone, asenapine, and lurasidone offer new treatment options for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. While efficacy is comparable to older drugs, their distinct side effect profiles may benefit non-responsive patients.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
- Drug Development
Background:
- Second-generation antipsychotics represent a significant advancement in treating psychiatric disorders.
- Recent FDA approvals include iloperidone, asenapine, and lurasidone since 2009.
- These novel agents target specific neurotransmitter systems, offering potentially improved tolerability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel atypical second-generation antipsychotic drugs approved since 2009.
- To examine indications, efficacy, and side effect profiles of iloperidone, asenapine, and lurasidone.
- To assess their potential utility in specific patient populations and treatment-resistant cases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of clinical trials and published studies.
- Comparative analysis of efficacy and tolerability data.
- Pharmacological profile examination of the reviewed agents.
Main Results:
- Iloperidone, asenapine, and lurasidone are FDA-approved for schizophrenia; asenapine is also indicated for bipolar disorder.
- Limited data exists on their use in pediatric, geriatric, pregnant, or breastfeeding populations.
- Overall efficacy is similar to existing antipsychotics, but side effect profiles differ significantly.
Conclusions:
- These novel antipsychotics offer alternative treatment options due to unique pharmacologies and tolerability.
- They may be particularly beneficial for patients who have not responded to or tolerated other antipsychotic medications.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate their long-term effects and use in diverse patient groups.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
Antipsychotic drugs are classified into first-generation (typical) drugs including phenothiazines; and second-generation (atypical) drugs. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride (Thorazine), a phenothiazine derivative, broadly impacts the central, autonomic, and endocrine systems. This drug, along with typical agents like haloperidol (Haldol), primarily works by antagonizing D2 receptors, thus reducing dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, typical antipsychotics can cause side effects such as sedation...
01:28Drug Therapy
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic symptoms in all...
01:21Antipsychotic Drugs: Therapeutic Uses and Side Effects
Antipsychotic drugs primarily block dopamine and serotonin receptors and cholinergic, adrenergic, and histaminergic receptors, thereby reducing hallucinations and delusions in conditions like schizophrenia. However, they can trigger unwanted extrapyramidal effects such as dystonias, Parkinson-like symptoms, and tardive dyskinesia.
Despite these side effects, antipsychotics are used therapeutically for various purposes, including managing schizophrenia, preventing nausea and vomiting, curbing...
Despite these side effects, antipsychotics are used therapeutically for various purposes, including managing schizophrenia, preventing nausea and vomiting, curbing...
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...