Understanding the new and evolving profile of adverse drug effects in schizophrenia

Primary healthcare for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities

“…It is well established that antipsychotic and mood stabiliser medication can have serious negative impacts on physical health, leading to major weight gain and obesity, heart problems, low blood pressure, osteoporosis, seizures, parkinsonism, tardive dyskinesia and a range of other problems [24][25][26][27]. In some cases, it can lead to sudden death [28].…”

Metabolic Risk with Second-Generation Antipsychotic Treatment: A Double-Blind Randomized 8-Week Trial of Risperidone and Olanzapine

“…Second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) effectively counter the movement side effects, and produce superior results with respect to affect flattening, alogia, and avolition in many people, albeit from secondary negative symptoms (2). However, some of the SGAs have been associated with excessive weight gain and increased risk of metabolic disorders including diabetes, which is itself a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (3,4). The concern over these metabolic effects of SGAs is compounded by the association of mental illness with less healthy lifestyles (5).…”

The Poor General Health of the Severely Mentally Ill: Impact of Schizophrenic Diagnosis

“…However, even given some inherent vulnerability, long-term neuroleptic treatment has more profound effects. Novel antipsychotic agents reduce risks of long-term neurological problems, but several (e.g., clozapine, olanzapine and to a lesser extent quietapine) contribute to rates of obesity and diabetes that exceed those associated with conventional agents (Melkersson & Dahl, 2004;Sernyak, Leslie, Alarcon, Losonczy, & Rosenheck, 2002;Wirshing, Pierre, Erhart, & Boyd, 2003).…”