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Antipsychotic Medications (Main Menu)

Below are links to the MANY articles on this website about ANTIANXIETY MEDICATIONS.

All the other MAIN MENUS on this website can be found by clicking HERE, or on *MENUS* at the top of any page on this website.



General topics about antipsychotics

Antibiotics, antipsychotics, and QTc prolongation

Which antipsychotics to prefer in patients with catatonia

Antipsychotics and QTc prolongation

How often should we order ECG (EKG) during treatment with a psychotropic medication?

Avoid these three antipsychotics in women with breast cancer

The patient who “demands” TWO antipsychotics

Practice guideline: Antipsychotics for agitation/psychosis in dementia

The lipid panel (profile): Why, when, and how to order it

Should we start metformin at the same time as an antipsychotic?

Consider starting metformin, if it is needed, in inpatients on an antipsychotic


Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics

Second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotics (List)

Second-generation antipsychotics: Dose equivalents

Dose adjustment for second-generation antipsychotics based on drug interactions

Does weight gain with second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics plateau after the first few months?

Do adolescents have more metabolic side effects with second-generation antipsychotics?

How to monitor for metabolic side effects in adults on second-generation antipsychotics

How to monitor for metabolic side effects in children and adolescents on a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic

The patient who “demands” TWO antipsychotics

Aripiprazole (Abilify®)

FDA issues new warning about aripiprazole (impulse control problems)

Aripiprazole (Abilify®): Basic Information

Aripiprazole with sensor (Abilify Mycite®): Basic Information

Can aripiprazole *worsen* psychosis?

How exactly to add aripiprazole for hyperprolactinemia with risperidone

Resolution of hyperglycemia after switching to aripiprazole

What dose of aripiprazole as an adjunct for OCD?

What is the risk of tardive dyskinesia with LOW-dose aripiprazole?


Aripiprazole—Long-acting injectable (LAI) preparations

Aripiprazole (Abilify Maintena®): Basic Information

Aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada®): Basic Information

Aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada Initio™): Basic information

Aripiprazole extended-release injectable suspension (Abilify Asimtufii®): Basic Information 

Aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada®) versus Aripiprazole (Abilify Maintena®)

How to convert from oral to long-acting injectable (LAI) aripiprazole

Be careful in converting from Abilify Maintena® to Aristada®

Why does Abilify Maintena® have an FDA indication for bipolar disorder but Aristada® does not?

Asenapine (Saphris®)

Asenapine (Saphris®): Basic Information

Brexpiprazole (Rexulti®)

Brexpiprazole (Rexulti®): Basic Information

Potential side effects of brexpiprazole (Rexulti®)

Cariprazine (Vraylar®)

Cariprazine (Vraylar®): Basic Information

Cariprazine (Vraylar): Potential side effects

Activity of cariprazine (Vraylar®) on dopamine D3 and D2 receptors

Cariprazine (Vraylar®): Organized list of references

Clozapine (Clozaril®)

Clozapine—General information

Clozapine (Clozaril®): Basic Information

Why we must refer more patients for clozapine treatment

What can we do about the underutilization of clozapine and delays in starting it?

Where can I find someone who prescribes clozapine?

Clozapine for schizophrenia in children?

Changes in rules about clozapine

Clozapine—Serum level

How to check and interpret clozapine levels

Are the clozapine-norclozapine ratio and norclozapine level useful?

Can oral contraceptives affect clozapine levels?

Caffeine can significantly change serum clozapine levels

Clozapine—Side effects

Potential side effects of clozapine (Clozaril®) handout

Key information about seizures with clozapine

Clozapine-induced hypersalivation (sialorrhea)

Clozapine-induced hypersalivation (sialorrhea): Treatment

Management of clozapine-induced constipation

Benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN)

Iloperidone (Fanapt®)

Iloperidone (Fanapt®): Basic Information

Lumateperone (Caplyta®)

Lumateperone (Caplyta®): Basic information

Lumateperone for adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder

Is lumateperone (Caplyta®) really different from other atypical antipsychotics?

Potential side effects of lumateperone (Caplyta®) handout

Is lumateperone less likely to cause extrapyramidal symptoms (including parkinsonism or akathisia)?

Can lumateperone (Caplyta®) cause metabolic side effects?

Lurasidone (Latuda®)

Lurasidone (Latuda®): Basic Information

Lurasidone (Latuda®): Pharmacological Effects

Lurasidone (Latuda®): Efficacy

Lurasidone (Latuda®): Drug Interactions

Lurasidone (Latuda®): Adverse Effects

What are the possible risks of using lurasidone (Latuda®) during pregnancy

Which psychiatric medications MUST be taken with food?

Does lurasidone (Latuda®) really have a low risk of increasing serum prolactin?

Olanzapine (Zyprexa®)

Olanzapine (Zyprexa®): Basic Information

Does olanzapine (Zyprexa®) really have a low risk of increasing serum prolactin?


Olanzapine—Long-acting injectable (LAI) preparation

Olanzapine (Zyprexa Relprevv®): Basic Information

Extended-Release Olanzapine (Zyprexa Relprevv®): REMS


Olanzapine-Samidorphan (Lybalvi®)

Olanzapine and samidorphan (Lybalvi®): Basic information

Samidorphan versus naltrexone: What’s the difference?

How much better is olanzapine-samidorphan (Lybalvi®) than olanzapine alone? Part 1

Paliperidone (Invega®)

Paliperidone (Invega®): Basic Information

Potential side effects of paliperidone (Invega®): Patient handout


Paliperidone—Long-acting injectable (LAI) preparations

Paliperidone palmitate (Invega Sustenna®): Basic Information

How to convert from oral paliperidone or risperidone to paliperidone palmitate 1-month LAI

Paliperidone palmitate 3-month (Invega Trinza®): Basic Information

Paliperidone palmitate 6-month (Invega Hayfera™): Basic Information

Pimavanserin (Nuplazid®)

Pimavanserin (Nuplazid): Basic Information

What is pimavanserin (Nuplazid®)?

Pimavanserin (Nuplazid®): Potential adverse effects

Quetiapine (Seroquel®)

Quetiapine (Seroquel®, Seroquel XR®): Basic Information

Which psychotropic medications should be taken WITHOUT food?

The dose of quetiapine is NOT the same for each disorder

Is quetiapine (Seroquel®) a reasonable option for treating insomnia?

Why it matters that quetiapine’s metabolite is a *norepinephrine* reuptake inhibitor

Risperidone (Risperdal®)

Risperidone (Risperdal®): Basic Information

News: July 6, 2016. Make sure you are discussing the increased risk of gynecomastia with risperidone

How exactly to add aripiprazole for hyperprolactinemia with risperidone


Risperidone—Long-acting injectable (LAI) preparations

Equivalence of risperidone oral and long-acting injection (RLAI; Risperdal Consta®)

How to convert from oral paliperidone or risperidone to paliperidone palmitate 1-month LAI

Ziprasidone (Geodon®)

Ziprasidone (Geodon®): Basic Information

Antipsychotics and QTc prolongation

When to do an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)?

Cardiovascular risk screening form

Does ziprasidone (Geodon®) really have a low risk of increasing serum prolactin?


Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics: General articles

(For our articles about long-acting injectable preparations of specific antipsychotics, please look under that antipsychotic on this page.)

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics: Overview

Dose equivalents of long-acting injectable second-generation antipsychotics

How *NOT* to offer long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics to patients

Which injections can only be given in the gluteal muscle—and why?

How to choose between injecting into the deltoid or gluteal muscles

CPT billing code for administration of injections

When is it appropriate to combine two antipsychotics?


First-generation (typical) antipsychotics

Haloperidol (Haldol®): Basic Information

Haloperidol (Haldol® Decanoate): Basic Information


Antipsychotics—Side effects

Antipsychotics—Metabolic Side Effects

Does weight gain with second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics plateau after the first few months?

How long does antipsychotic-induced hyperglycemia take to resolve?

Resolution of hyperglycemia after switching to aripiprazole

Do adolescents have more metabolic side effects with second-generation antipsychotics?

How to monitor for metabolic side effects in adults on second-generation antipsychotics

How to monitor for metabolic side effects in children and adolescents on a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic

Why do some antipsychotics carry a warning about suicidal thoughts or actions?

Which antipsychotics are more or less often associated with urinary incontinence or enuresis?


Amantadine for antipsychotic-induced parkinsonism

Amantadine (Symmetrel): Basic Information

Is TD less likely with second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotics?

Does any atypical antipsychotic have a lower risk of tardive dyskinesia?

Management of tardive dyskinesia: First-line options

Management of tardive dyskinesia: Second-line options

Be careful if a person is on both a stimulant and an antipsychotic

What could happen when changing from an antipsychotic to a stimulant?

Key information about seizures with clozapine

Can we use topiramate to treat medication-induced weight gain?

Potential risks of second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics in pregnancy

Akathisia: Treatment with a beta-blocker


Antipsychotics—Drug interactions

Smoking and psychotropic medications


Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists

Dexmedetomidine (Igalmi™): Basic information


Off-label treatments for schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders

Cannabidiol for schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders? An overview

What did randomized, double-blind clinical trials of cannabidiol in schizophrenia find?

Does estrogen have a role in schizophrenia?

Estrogen as a treatment for schizophrenia?


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Disclaimer: The material on this website is provided as general education for medical professionals. It is not intended for patients or other laypersons, nor is it a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients must always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding their diagnosis and treatment. Healthcare professionals should always check this website for the most up-to-date information.

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