Antipsychotics
(Wiki)
Also known
as Neuroleptics
Also known as Major Tranquilisers (Typicals only)
Antipsychotic drugs are primarily prescribed to treat psychotic illnesses but can also be used to treat
bipolar disorder, insomnia, depression and even (in some cases)
Tourette Syndrome.
There are two main categories - typical drugs and atypical drugs.
Typical antipsychotics are often referred to as major
tranquilisers as they tend to sedate heavily; the term has not carried over
into the more modern antipsychotics as they cause sedation far more rarely.
Of the atypical antipsychotics Clozapine stands out as a more unique
drug and has a different set of side effect
to most other atypical antipsychotics.
Antipsychotics tend to block D2 receptors in dopamine pathways; typical drugs tend to be less selective in this
action than atypicals, subsequently causing more
side effects. A particular side effect of
antipsychotics is restless legs syndrome and in some cases tardive dyskinesia; these side effects are typically absent from the
atypical antipsychotic quetiapine and are meant to be completely absent
from the atypical antipsychotic clozapine.