User:Mr. Ibrahem/Antipsychotic

Antipsychotics, also known as neuroleptics, are a class of medication primarily used for agitation, schizophrenia, bipolar, and nausea. Other uses include delusional disorder and borderline personality disorder. There are at least 80 types which are categorized as either typical or atypical. There is no clear evidence that one agent is more effective than another. They may be used by mouth or by injection. Some are available in long acting formulations.

Side effects of typical antipsychotics may include involuntary movement disorders, including tardive dyskinesia, sleepiness, low blood pressure, and sexual dysfunction. Side effects of atypical antipsychotics may include movement disorders, sleepiness, weight gain, diabetes, and sexual dysfunction, though movement disorders are less common than with typicals. Other side effects include neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Additional concerns with clozapine include low white blood cells and inflammation of the heart. Typical agents include chlorpromazine and haloperidol and atypicals include clozapine and risperidone. Both subtypes block receptors in the brain for dopamine, while atypicals also block serotonin receptors.

Typical antipsychotics, were first introduced in the 1950s while atypicals were introduced in the 1970s. Some of both the typical and atypicals are available as generic medication and are relatively inexpensive. The term "neuroleptic", originating from νεῦρον (neuron) and λαμβάνω (take hold of)—thus meaning "which takes the nerve".