Neuroscience
The new issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal includes a review article of modern and older antipsychotic medications. The article is available in free, full-content format.
David M. Gardner, Ross J. Baldessarini, and Paul Waraich. Modern antipsychotic drugs: A critical overview. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2005; 72(13): 1703.
Abstract
CONVENTIONAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS, used for a half century to treat a range of major psychiatric disorders, are being replaced in clinical practice by modern "atypical" antipsychotics, including aripiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone and ziprasidone among others. As a class, the newer drugs have been promoted as being broadly clinically superior, but the evidence for this is problematic. In this brief critical overview, we consider the pharmacology, therapeutic effectiveness, tolerability, adverse effects and costs of individual modern agents versus older antipsychotic drugs. Because of typically minor differences between agents in clinical effectiveness and tolerability, and because of growing concerns about potential adverse long-term health consequences of some modern agents, it is reasonable to consider both older and newer drugs for clinical use, and it is important to inform patients of relative benefits, risks and costs of specific choices.
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Anthony H. Risser | neuroscience | neuropsychology | brain
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Neuroscience
Antipsychotic Medications
The new issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal includes a review article of modern and older antipsychotic medications. The article is available in free, full-content format.
David M. Gardner, Ross J. Baldessarini, and Paul Waraich. Modern antipsychotic drugs: A critical overview. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2005; 72(13): 1703.
Abstract
CONVENTIONAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS, used for a half century to treat a range of major psychiatric disorders, are being replaced in clinical practice by modern "atypical" antipsychotics, including aripiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone and ziprasidone among others. As a class, the newer drugs have been promoted as being broadly clinically superior, but the evidence for this is problematic. In this brief critical overview, we consider the pharmacology, therapeutic effectiveness, tolerability, adverse effects and costs of individual modern agents versus older antipsychotic drugs. Because of typically minor differences between agents in clinical effectiveness and tolerability, and because of growing concerns about potential adverse long-term health consequences of some modern agents, it is reasonable to consider both older and newer drugs for clinical use, and it is important to inform patients of relative benefits, risks and costs of specific choices.
-
Anthony H. Risser | neuroscience | neuropsychology | brain
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Epilepsy
The cognitive impact of antiepileptic drugs Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2011 Nov; 4(6): 385-407 Eddy CM, Rickards HE, Cavanna AE Abstract Effective treatment of epilepsy depends on medication compliance across a lifetime, and studies indicate that drug tolerability...
- Acadia's Pimavanserin And Parkinson Disease Psychosis
FierceBiotech reported today about a failed Phase III trial of Acadia's Pimavanserin in a study of Parkinson's Disease Psychosis (sometimes abbreviated as "PDP"): ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Announces Results from Phase III Trial of Pimavanserin in...
- Parkinson Disease, Creatine, And Minocycline
From an NIH new release: Preliminary Study Shows Creatine and Minocycline May Warrant Further Study In Parkinson’s Disease A National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical trial with 200 Parkinson's disease patients has shown...
- The Amateur Pharmacists
From The New York Times:Young, Assured and Playing Pharmacist to Friends By AMY HARMON Published: November 16, 2005 The New York Times [snip] For a sizable group of people in their 20's and 30's, deciding on their own what drugs to take - in...
- Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
A Brown University press release describes a study published in this week's issue of Science:Antipsychotic Drugs Stop Fatal Viral Infection In Brain Cells PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Generic antipsychotic drugs can protect brain cells from a virus that...