This article describes the role of a newly approved antipsychotic agent brexpiprazole in the treatment of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. This drug has high affinity for 5-HT 1A , 5-HT 2A , D 2 and α 1B,2C receptors. It displays partial agonism at 5-HT 1A and D 2 receptors and potent antagonism at 5-HT 2A and α 1B,2C adrenergic receptors. It also has some affinity (antagonism) for D 3 , 5-HT 2B , 5-HT 7 and α 1A,1D receptors, and moderate affinity for H 1 and low affinity for M 1 receptors. These all lead to a favorable antipsychotic profile in terms of improvement of cognitive performance and sleep patterns, as well as effects on affective states and potential to treat core symptoms in schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, including cognitive deficits with a low risk of adverse effects (extrapyramidal symptoms, metabolic complications, weight gain, akathisia potential) that are commonly encountered with other typical and second-generation antipsychotic drugs. In our review, we have made an attempt to decipher the pharmacological profile of brexpiprazole from two major trials (VECTOR and BEACON). We have also tried to give a concise but detailed overview of brexpiprazole by head to head comparison of the pharmacological profile of brexpiprazole and its earlier congeners aripiprazole and prototype antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine by accessing individual summaries of product characteristics from the US Food and Drug Administration database, 2015. Relevant preclinical and clinical studies associated with this drug have been discussed with emphasis on efficacy and safety concerns. From the studies done so far, it can be concluded that brexpiprazole can be an effective monotherapy for schizophrenia and as an adjunct to other antidepressant medications in major depressive disorder.
Using inexpensive materials, serum CBZ concentrations can be accurately predicted from DBS specimens. This method can be recommended for the therapeutic drug monitoring of CBZ in resource-limited settings.
This study for the first time gives an elaborative insight on non-drug related pediatric poisoning from a tertiary care center in south India for almost a decade.
This study reflects a good, safe and rational medication practice during pregnancy in various common disorders in a secondary care hospital and can be cited as an example to similar primary and secondary care hospitals.
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