This paper presents a review of antipsychotic drugs, with these data, with are important in choice of drug in difficulty therapeutic situations.
The paper presents current views and research findings concerning the neuroleptic-inducted hyperprolactinemia. Causes, clinical effects, short- and long-term consequences and treatment of neuroleptic-inducted hyperprolactinemia are outlined.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the prolactin levels in schizophrenic inpatients receiving antipsychotics. The levels of prolactin have been measured in 67 patients two times during hospitalization. The study has revealed hyperprolactinemia in almost all patients (regardless of gender) treated with conventional neuroleptics, sulpiride or risperidon. Clozapine and quetiapine have been proved to exert the least influence or the secretion of prolactin. No correlation between the clinical symptoms resulting from hyperprolactinemia and the prolactin level has been established. The study revealed the coexistence of hyperprolactinemia and extrapiramidal symptoms. This leads to the conclusion that hyperprolactinemia may result from that the optimal dosage for an individual patient has been exceeded.
Tardive dyskinesia, a disabling movement disorder associated with prolonged use of neuroleptic medication continues to be still a serious problem in psychopharmacology. Its persisting course affects the patient’s self esteem, compliance, prognosis and social functioning. This article presents review of the current knowledge on tardive dyskinesia, its risk factors, clinical features and management.
This paper is a review of cause, mechanisms, prevalence, methods of assessment and therapy of sexual dysfunctions in antipsychotic-treated schizophrenic patients.
Cognitive dysfunctions are core and enduring deficits in schizophrenia, existed before first episode of the illness. Novel antipsychotic drugs exert more favourable influence on the cognitive performance in schizophrenia, compared with typical neuroleptics. However, some differences in this respect between various atypical antipsychotics may exist. In our study risperidone treatment resulted in significant amelioration of performance on all neuropsychological tests both after short- and long-term treatment. Olanzapine gave benefit on selected tests, although in most instances, this effect was noted only after long-term treatment. Olanzapine was inferior to risperidone in improving WCST performance. Treatment with phenothiazine’s brought about improvement on two subtests while the results on three showed significant deterioration. The results obtained suggest that novel antipsychotics show differential effect on cognition, with risperidone especially improving working memory; however, they have superior influence on negative symptoms and cognitive functions compared to phenothiazines.
Improvement of cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia during treatment with atypical neuroleptics may result in improvement of compliance, problem solving, better social adaptation and improvement of quality of their life.
Cognitive dysfunctions are core and enduring deficits in schizophrenia, existed before first episode of the illness. Novel antipsychotic drugs exert more favourable influence on the cognitive performance in schizophrenia, compared with typical neuroleptics. However, some differences in this respect between various atypical antipsychotics may exist. In study the results obtained suggest that novel antypsychotics show differential effect on cognition, with risperidone especially improving working memory, however, they have superior influence on negative symptoms and cognitive functions compared to phenothiazines.
Improvement of cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia during treatment with typical neuroleptics may result in improvement of compliance, problem solving, better social adaptation and improvement or quality or their life.