The promise of new drugs for schizophrenia treatment

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To present aspects of preclinical and clinical pharmacology of new antipsychotic drugs and to emphasize those preclinical drug characteristics which might predict desirable clinical actions. Method: Review of the relevant literature and publicly presented data. Results: Traditional neuroleptics have considerable effectiveness in treating positive symptoms of psychosis but can cause serious motor side effects. Clozapine produces no motor side effects and delivers a unique antipsychotic action. Risperidone also produces low motor side effects, but only at relatively low doses. Olanzapine and sertindole are newly introduced. Both have potent antipsychotic actions, with greatly reduced motor side effects. Both drugs also have possible advantages in negative symptoms. Conclusions: These data support the conclusion that several new antipsychotics are becoming available for general use which are safe and effective in the treatment of psychosis and have several advantages over traditional neuroleptics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)265-273
Number of pages9
JournalCanadian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume42
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1997

Keywords

  • clozapine
  • efficacy
  • new antipsychotic
  • olanzapine
  • risperidone
  • schizophrenia
  • sertindol e
  • side effects

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The promise of new drugs for schizophrenia treatment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this