Brexpiprazole and cariprazine are D2 partial agonists with different additional pharmacological properties. Cariprazine has particularly high affinity for D3 receptors and long-lasting active metabolites. Brexpiprazole also affects serotonin and adrenergic targets. These differences mean the…Continue Reading
Persistent symptoms are difficulties that continue despite improvement or treatment. They may involve psychosis, negative symptoms, cognition, mood or anxiety. Their persistence does not identify one cause, and each domain needs assessment. A voice that…Continue Reading
Treatment response is the degree of improvement associated with a treatment over an appropriate period. It can be measured through symptoms, distress, functioning and the person’s own priorities. A partial response may still be valuable…Continue Reading
Safety monitoring checks for adverse effects and changes in physical health during antipsychotic treatment. Depending on the medicine and circumstances, this can include weight, blood pressure, glucose, lipids, movement symptoms and hormonal concerns. An electrocardiogram…Continue Reading
Examples of first-generation antipsychotics include haloperidol, chlorpromazine, fluphenazine and several related agents. They belong to different chemical families and are available in different oral or injectable forms depending on the medicine and country. Their shared…Continue Reading
D2 blockade means preventing dopamine from activating D2 receptors in the usual way. This is the main established antipsychotic mechanism of first-generation drugs. It can reduce psychotic symptoms but also affects dopamine functions outside the…Continue Reading
Potency describes the amount of a drug needed to produce a particular effect. High-potency antipsychotics generally require fewer milligrams than low-potency agents for comparable antipsychotic effects. The terms do not mean that a high-potency medicine…Continue Reading
First-generation antipsychotics can reduce hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thinking. Their effectiveness helped establish that psychosis could be treated pharmacologically. They remain useful options for some people, including those with a good previous response or a…Continue Reading
Important adverse effects include drug-induced parkinsonism, acute dystonia, akathisia and the risk of tardive dyskinesia with ongoing exposure. Prolactin elevation can cause sexual or reproductive effects. Sedation, dry mouth, constipation and dizziness vary according to…Continue Reading
Examples include risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, clozapine and lurasidone. Some classifications also include D2 partial agonists within the second generation, while others describe them separately. The grouping is therefore useful historically but less precise than naming…Continue Reading