Treatment-emergent adverse events associated with atypical antipsychotics.

INTRODUCTION

Atypical antipsychotics provide broad-spectrum effectiveness for the acute and/or preventative treatment of disparate psychiatric disorders. Atypical antipsychotics offer improved efficacy in some psychopathological domains when compared with typical antipsychotics. Notwithstanding, atypicals are not a catholicon and are associated with clinically significant and treatment-limiting side effects (e.g., extrapyramidal symptoms and weight gain).

AREAS COVERED

This article reviews commonly encountered adverse events attributable to the use of atypical antipsychotic agents. This review aims to provide a current overview of common adverse events associated with atypical agents with a particular emphasis on adverse events that frequently lead to treatment discontinuation (e.g., changes in weight, metabolism, extrapyramidal side effects, neuroendocrine changes, blood dyscrasias, and cardiovascular toxicity).

EXPERT OPINION

Atypicals are not a catholicon and are associated with clinically significant and treatment-limiting side effects (e.g., extrapyramidal symptoms and weight gain). Improving the utility of these agents requires a familiarity and understanding of the heterogeneous tolerability and safety profiles of atypical agents as well as the therapeutic evidence for their efficacy.