Last time we talked about the side effects of [typical antipsychotics] (click to view), this time we talked about the side effects of atypical antipsychotics.
Last time we said that [typical antipsychotics] will block the dopamine D2 receptor to death, making it ineffective. There are many differences in [atypical antipsychotics].
Among them, some only block a part of D2 receptor, while others block and immediately release D2 receptor. Some block D2 receptor while affecting other receptors to resist some effects of blocking D2 receptor.
In short, these various pharmacological effects have only one purpose, that is, to reduce various side effects of [killing 1,000 enemies and damaging 800 oneself] while controlling psychiatric symptoms.
So, does it mean that atypical antipsychotic drugs have no side effects? Unfortunately, it is not.
Side effects of antipsychotic drugs
1. Metabolic syndrome
This can be said to be the number one side effect of [atypical antipsychotics].
A long time ago, when atypical antipsychotic drugs had just entered clinical application, clinicians found that this drug basically did not make patients shake their hands, prolactin increased, and sometimes it could improve negative symptoms. It was simply a magic drug!
However, it didn’t take long for doctors to find that patients who took these drugs would have a big appetite, gain weight, increase blood sugar and blood lipid, and the probability of various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases would greatly increase.
This is mainly because the receptor of drug action is actually far more than dopamine D2 receptor, which can control psychotic symptoms.
Some experience stimulates the feeding center of the brain and directly orders people to eat more, and people still do not feel full. Some will also make the body insensitive to insulin, resulting in high blood sugar.
A series of complicated functions eventually make patients go further and further along the [three highs] road.
2. Calmness and drowsiness
In this respect, not all drugs have similar effects. Some drugs have very strong sedative and lethargy effects, such as clozapine. However, some drugs have little sedative effect, such as ziprasidone and aripiprazole.
Different from the public’s cognition, many people think that antipsychotic drugs can play an antipsychotic role, that is, [sedatives]. After taking them, patients fall asleep and become [unable to move crazy].
In fact, antipsychotics and sedatives are different.
In some cases, sedation is what we want. For example, when the patient is noisy and aggressive, using these drugs can make the patient calm down quickly. However, in long-term treatment, this is a very difficult side effect, because groggy state will seriously reduce the quality of life and work efficiency of patients.
The sedative effect has nothing to do with the curative effect of the drug. Otherwise, we can cure the mental patients by giving them sleeping pills.
3. Extravertebral system side effects
This is a side effect of the motor system, which is very common in typical antipsychotic drugs and much less in atypical antipsychotic drugs, but it is not completely absent.
4. Elevated prolactin
This is also a common side effect of typical antipsychotic drugs, which is much less in atypical antipsychotic drugs, but it also exists, and some drugs such as risperidone are more obvious.
5. Abnormal electrocardiogram
Some of these drugs have [cardiac toxicity], and the common ones are tachycardia, QTc interval extension, torsade de pointes, etc.
Although the incidence rate of some adverse effects is low, the degree of harm is serious and even death may occur, so doctors will pay close attention to them.
6. Other
Such as blurred vision, drooling, constipation, epilepsy, malignant syndrome, etc.
Take one medicine, there are so many side effects! ?
Although there are many side effects listed above, there are many specific types of [atypical antipsychotic drugs], each of which has its own characteristics. In terms of therapeutic effect, some are better than here and worse than there, and so are the strength and presence of various side effects.
Not all drugs have all the above side effects and the degree varies.
When choosing drugs, doctors will also consider the individual characteristics of patients and try to choose drugs with little side effects on patients. For example, for obese patients with diabetes, they will avoid choosing drugs with strong side effects of metabolic syndrome.
If at this time, the patient forcibly changes dressing because [the person he knows has taken this medicine], it is not good for himself.
Even the same drug will not show exactly the same therapeutic effects and side effects on different patients. In actual treatment, individualized treatment is very important, which requires effective communication and cooperation among patients, family members and doctors.