| Question | Answer |
| Conventional Antipyschotic Medications are used to control/treat which symptoms of psychosis? | Positive Symptoms (agitation, delusions, hallucinations, tangential speech patterns) |
| Atypical Anti-psychotic Agents are used to control/treat which symptoms of psychosis? | Positive and Negative Symptoms
(Negative symptoms: social withdrawal, lack of emotion, lack of energy, flattened affect, decreased motivation, decreased pleasure in activities) |
| What are the Conventional Anti-psychotics? | Chlorpromazine (Thorazine); Haloperidol (Haldol); Fluphenazine (Prolixin); Molindone (Moban); Loxapine (Loxitane); Thioridazine (Mellaril); Thiothixene (Navane) |
| What are the therapeutic uses of Conventional Anti-psychotics? | Acute and chronic psychosis; schizophrenia; bipolar disorder (manic phase); tourette's syndrome; delusional and schizoaffective disorder; dementia; prevention of nausea/vomiting |
| What are the side/adverse effects of Conventional Anti-psychotics? | Acute Dystonia (spasm of tongue, neck, face, and back); Parkinsonism (bradykinesia, rigidity, shuffling gait, drooling, tremors); Akathisia (inability to sit or stand still) |
| Side/adverse effects of Conventional Anti-psychotics continued... | Late Extrapyramidal side effects (Tardive Dyskinesia--involuntary movements of the tongue and face, such as lip smacking. Involuntary movements of the arms, legs, and trunk) |
| Side/adverse effects of Conventional Anti-psychotics continued... | Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (high fever, BP fluctuations, dysrhythmias, muscle rigidity, changes in level of consciousness, coma); Anticholinergic Effects; Orthostatic Hypotension; Sedation |
| Side/Adverse effects of Conventional Anti-psychotics continued... | Neuro-endocrine effects (gynecomastia, galactorrhea, menstrual irregularities); Seizures; Sexual dysfunction; Skin effects (photosensitivity, contact dermatitis); Agranulocytosis; Severe dysrhythmias |
| Contraindications of Conventional Anti-psychotics | Contraindicated in older adult clients with dementia |
| Interactions with Conventional Anti-psychotics | Anticholinergic angents (avoid OTC meds such as sleep aids)
CNS Depressants (ETOH, opioids, antihistamines)
Levodopa |
| What are the Atypical Anti-psychotics? | Risperidone (Risperdal); Olanzapine (Zyprexa); Quetiapine (Seroquel); Aripiprazole (Abilify); Ziprasidone (Geodon); Clozapine (Clozaril) |
| What are the therapeutic uses for Atypical Anti-psychotics? | Negative and positive symptoms of schizophrenia, psychosis induced by levodopa therapy, relief of psychotic symptoms in other disorders (bipolar) |
| What are the side/adverse effects of Atypical Anti-psychotics? | Onset of Diabetes Mellitus or loss of glucose control in clients with diabetes.
Weight gain;
Hypercholesterolemia (increased risk for hypertension);
Orthostatic Hypotension;
Anticholinergic Effects;
Symptoms of agitation;
Mild EPS (tremor) |
| Contraindications for Atypical Anti-psychotics | Not used for dementia-related psychosis
Avoid concurrent use of ETOH |
| Clozapine (Clozaril): Specific side/adverse effects: | Risk for Agranulocytosis (baseline and weekly monitoring of WBC recommended)
High risk of weight gain, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. |
| Interactions with Atypical Anti-psychotics | Immunosuppressive meds (anticancer meds)
Avoid CNS depressants (ETOH, opioids, antihistamines)
Levodopa |
