DRUG TREATMENT OF
PSYCHOSIS
Psychosis
Psychosis is a thought disorder characterized
by disturbances of reality and perception,
impaired cognitive functioning, and
inappropriate or diminished affect (mood).
Psychosis denotes many mental disorders.
Schizophrenia is a particular kind of psychosis
characterized mainly by a clear sensorium but a
marked thinking disturbance.
Psychosis-Producing Drugs
1) Levodopa
2) CNS stimulants
a) Cocaine
b) Amphetamines
c) Khat, cathinone, methcathinone
5) Apomorphine
6) Phencyclidine
Schizophrenia
• Pathogenesis is unknown.
• Onset of schizophrenia is in the late teens -
early ‘20s.
• Genetic predisposition -- Familial incidence.
• Multiple genes are involved.
• Afflicts 1% of the population worldwide.
• May or may not be present with anatomical
changes.
Schizophrenia
• A thought disorder.
• The disorder is characterized by a divorcement
from reality in the mind of the person (psychosis).
• It may involve visual and auditory hallucinations,
delusions, intense suspicion, feelings of
persecution or control by external forces
(paranoia), depersonalization, and there is
attachment of excessive personal significance to
daily events, called “ideas of reference”.
Schizophrenia
Positive Symptoms.
Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, ideas of reference.
Negative Symptoms.
Apathy, social withdrawal, anhedonia, emotional blunting,
cognitive deficits, extreme inattentiveness or lack of
motivation to interact with the environment.
These symptoms are progressive and non-responsive to medication.
Etiology of Schizophrenia
Idiopathic
Biological Correlates
1) Genetic Factors
2) Neurodevelopmental abnormalities.
3) Environmental stressors.
Etiology of Schizophrenia
Characterized by several structural and
functional abnormalities in the brains of
schizophrenic patients:
1) Enlarge cerebral ventricles.
2) Atrophy of cortical layers.
3) Reduced volume of the basal ganglia.
Dopamine Theory of Schizophrenia
Many lines of evidence point to the
aberrant increased activity of the
dopaminergic system as being critical in the
symptomatology of schizophrenia.
There is a greater occupancy of D2
receptors by dopamine => greater
dopaminergic stimulation
Dopamine Theory of Schizophrenia
Dopamine Correlates:
• Antipsychotics reduce dopamine synaptic activity.
• These drugs produce Parkinson-like symptoms.
• Drugs that increase DA in the limbic system cause
psychosis.
• Drugs that reduce DA in the limbic system (postsynaptic
D2 antagonists) reduce psychosis.
• Increased DA receptor density (Post-mortem, PET).
• Changes in amount of homovanillic acid (HVA), a DA
metabolite, in plasma, urine, and CSF.
Pharmacodynamics
Anatomic Correlates of Schizophrenia...
Areas Associated with Mood and Thought Processes:
Frontal cortex
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Nucleus accumbens
Limbic Cortex
Dopamine Theory of Schizophrenia
Evidence against the Theory?
• Antipsychotics are only partially effective in most
(70%) and ineffective for some patients.
• Phencyclidine, an NMDA receptor antagonist,
produces more schizophrenia-like symptoms in non-
schizophrenic subjects than DA agonists.
• Atypical antipsychotics have low affinity for D2
receptors.
• Focus is broader now and research is geared to
produce drugs with less extrapyramidal effects.
Dopamine System
There are four major pathways for the
dopaminergic system in the brain:
I. The Nigro-Stiatal Pathway.
II. The Mesolimbic Pathway.
III. The Mesocortical Pathway.
IV. The Tuberoinfundibular Pathway.
THE DOPAMINERGIC SYSTEM
Catecholamines
Tyrosine
⇓ Tyrosine hydroxylase
L-Dopa
⇓ Dopa decarboxylase
Dopamine (DA)
⇓ Dopamine β hydroxylase
Norepinephrine (NE)
(Noradrenaline) Phenylethanolamine-
⇓ -N-methyltransferase
Epinephrine (EPI)
(Adrenaline)
Dopamine Synapse
DA
L-DOPA
Tyrosine
Tyrosine
Dopamine System
• DOPAMINE RECEPTORS
– There are at least 5 subtypes of receptors:
– D1 and D5: mostly involved in postsynaptic inhibition.
– D2, D3, and D4: involved in both pre-and postsynaptic
inhibition.
D2: the predominant subtype in the brain:
regulates mood, emotional stability in the limbic system
and movement control in the basal ganglia.
Dopamine Reuptake System
Antipsychotic treatments
SCHIZOPHRENIA IS FOR LIFE
There is no remission
Antipsychotic treatments
Schizophrenia has been around perhaps, since the beginning of
humankind, however, it was not until the last century that
it was established as a separate entity amongst other
mental disorders.
Many treatments have been devised:
 Hydrotherapy:
“The pouring of cold water in a stream, from a height of at least
four feet onto the forehead, is one of the most certain means of
subsiding violent, maniacal excitement that we have ever seen
tried”... wrote an anonymous physician in the early 1800’s.
Antipsychotic treatments
 Lobotomies (Egaz Moniz).
 In 1940’s Phenothiazenes were isolated and were
used as pre-anesthetic medication, but quickly
were adopted by psychiatrists to calm down their
mental patients.
 In 1955, chlorpromazine was developed as an
antihistaminic agent by Rhône-Pauline Laboratories
in France. In-patients at Mental Hospitals dropped
by 1/3.
Antipsychotics treatment
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
• Antipsychotics are the drugs currently used in the
prevention of psychosis.
• They have also been termed neuroleptics,
because they suppress motor activity and
emotionality.
** These drugs are not a cure **
• Schizophrenics must be treated with medications
indefinitely, in as much as the disease in lifelong
and it is preferable to prevent the psychotic
episodes than to treat them.
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
Although the antipsychotic/neuroleptics are drugs
used mainly in the treatment of schizophrenia,
they are also used in the treatment of other
psychoses associated with depression and manic-
depressive illness, and psychosis associated with
Alzheimer’s disease. These conditions are life-
long and disabling.
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
NON-compliance is the major reason for relapse.
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
Three major groups :
1) Phenothiazines
2) Thioxanthines
3) Butyrophenones
OLDER DRUGS
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
Dopamine Synapse
DA
L-DOPA
Tyrosine
Tyrosine
• Old antiphsychotics /neuroleptics are D2 dopamine
receptor antagonists. Although they are also effective
antagonists at ACh, 5-HT, NE receptors.
dopamine
receptor
antagonist
D2
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
• It appears that the specific interaction of
antipsychotic drugs with D2 receptors is
important to their therapeutic action.
• The affinities of most older “classical” agents
for the D2 receptors correlate with their
clinical potencies as antipsychotics.
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
Correlations between therapeutic potency
and affinity for binding D2 receptors.[3H]Haloperidolbinding
IC50(mol/L)
Clinical dose of drug [mg d-1]
haloperidol
clozapine
thiothixene
chlorpromazine
promazine
spiroperidole
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
• Both D1 and D2 receptors are found in high
concentrations in the striatum and the nucleus
accumbens.
• Clozapine has a higher affinity for the D4 receptors
than for D2.
• Recently it has been found that most antipsychotic
drugs may also bind D3 receptors (therefore, they
are non-selective).
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
• Antipsychotics produce catalepsy (reduce motor activity).
– BLOCKADE OF DOPAMINE RECPTORS IN BASAL GANGLIA.
• Antipsychotics reverse hyperkinetic behaviors (increased
locomotion and stereotyped behavior).
– BLOCKADE OF DOPAMINE RECPTORS IN LIMBIC AREAS.
• Antipsychotics prevent the dopamine inhibition of prolactin
release from pituitary.
– BLOCKADE OF DOPAMINE RECEPTORS IN PITUITARY.
 hyperprolactinemia
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption and Distribution
• Most antipsychotics are readily but incompletely
absorbed.
• Significant first-pass metabolism.
• Bioavailability is 25-65%.
• Most are highly lipid soluble.
• Most are highly protein bound (92-98%).
• High volumes of distribution (>7 L/Kg).
• Slow elimination.
**Duration of action longer than expected, metabolites are present and
relapse occurs, weeks after discontinuation of drug.**
Pharmacokinetics
Metabolism
• Most antipsychotics are almost completely
metabolized.
• Most have active metabolites, although not
important in therapeutic effect, with one
exception. The metabolite of thioridazine,
mesoridazine, is more potent than the parent
compound and accounts for most of the
therapeutic effect.
Pharmacokinetics
Excretion
• Antipsychotics are almost completely metabolized
and thus, very little is eliminated unchanged.
• Elimination half-lives are 10-24 hrs.
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
1) Phenothiazines
Chlorpromazine Thioridazine Fluphenazine
Trifluopromazine PiperacetazinePerfenazine
Mesoridazine Acetophenazine
Carphenazine
Prochlorperazine
Trifluoperazine
• Aliphatic Piperidine Piperazine*
* Most likely to cause extrapyramidal effects.
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
[Drug dose]
Effect
Piperazine
Aliphatic
Piperidine
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
2) Thioxanthines
Thiothixene
Chlorprothixene
Closely related to phenothiazines
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
3) Butyrophenones
Haloperidol
Droperidol*
*Not marketed in the U.S.
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
[Drug dose]
Effect
Phenothiazine
Thioxanthene
Butyrophenone
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
• Newer drugs have higher affinities for D1, 5-
HT or α-AR receptors.
• NE, GABA, Glycine and Glutamate have also
been implicated in schizophrenia.
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
The acute effects of antipsychotics do not explain why their
therapeutic effects are not evident until 4-8 weeks of
treatment.
Blockade of D2 receptors

Short term/Compensatory effects:
⇑ Firing rate and activity of nigrostriatal and mesolimbic
DA neurons.
⇑ DA synthesis, DA metabolism, DA release
Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics
Presynaptic Effects
Blockade of D2 receptors

Compensatory Effects
⇑ Firing rate and activity of nigrostriatal and mesolimbic DA neurons.
⇑ DA synthesis, DA metabolism, DA release.
Postsynaptic Effects
Depolarization Blockade
Inactivation of nigrostriatal and mesolimbic DA neurons.

Receptor Supersensitivity
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
Pimozide
Molindone
Loxapine
Clozapine
Olanzapine
Qetiapine
Risperidone
Sertindole
Ziprasidone
Olindone
Newer Drugs
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
ClinicalEx. Py.
Drug Potency toxicity Sedation Hypote.
Chlorpromaz. Low Medium Medium High
Haloperidol High Very High Very High Low
Thiothixene High Medium Medium Medium
Clozapine Medium Very low Low Medium
Ziprasidone Medium Very Low Low Very low
Risperidone High Low Low Low
Olanzapine High Very Low Medium Very low
Sertindole High Very Low Very low Very Low
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
Chlorpromazine: α1 = 5-HT2 = D2 > D1 > M > α2
Haloperidol: D2 > D1 = D4 > α1 > 5-HT2 >H1>M = α2
Clozapine: D4 = α1 > 5-HT2 = M > D2 = D1 = α2 ; H1
Quetiapine: 5-HT2 = D2 = α1 = α2 ; H1
Risperidone: 5-HT2 >> α1 > H1 > D2 > α2 >> D1
Sertindole: 5-HT2 > D2 = α1
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
Clinical Problems with antipsychotic drugs
include:
1) Failure to control negative effect
2) Significant toxicity
a) Parkinson-like symptoms
b) Tardive Dyskinesia (10-30%)
c) Autonomic effects
d) Endocrine effects
e) Cardiac effects
3) Poor Concentration
The Nigro-Striatal Pathway
Inhibition
of
Motor Activity
DA
neuron ACh
neuron
GABA
neuron
GABA
neuron
Substanti
a
Nigra
+
-
-
-
-
Striatum
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
 Some antipsychotics have effects at muscarinic
acetylcholine receptors:
dry mouth
blurred vision
urinary retention
constipation
Clozapine
Chlorpromazine
Thioridazine
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
 Some antipsychotics have effects at α−adrenergic
receptors:
• orthostatic hypotension
Chlorpromazine
Thioridazine
 Some antipsychotics have effects at H1-histaminergic
receptors:
• sedation
Risperidone
Haloperidol
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
 Blockade of D2 receptors in
lactotrophs in breast increase prolactin
concentration and may produce breast
engorgement and galactorrhea.
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Is a rare but serious side effect of neuroleptic
(antipsychotic) therapy that can be lethal. It
can arise at any time in the course of
treatment and shows no predilection for age,
duration of treatment, antipsychotic
medication, or dose.
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
• Occurs in pts. hypersensitive to the Ex.Py. effects of
antipsychotics.
• Due to excessively rapid blockade of postsynaptic dopamine
receptors.
• The syndrome begins with marked muscle rigidity.
• If sweating is impaired, a fever may ensue. The stress
leukocytosis and high fever associated with this syndrome
may be mistaken for an infection.
• Autonomic instability with altered blood pressure and heart
rate is another midbrain manifestation.
• Creatine kinase isozymes are usually elevated, reflecting
muscle damage.
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Treatment
Vigorous treatment with antiparkinsonian drugs is
recommended as soon as possible.
Muscle relaxants such as diazepam, dantrolene or
bromocriptine may be helpful.
Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics
Drug Interactions
• Additive effects with sedatives.
• Additive effects with anticholinergics.
• Additive effects with antihistaminergics.
• Additive effects with α-AR blocking drugs.
• Additive effects with drugs with quinidine-like
action (thioridazine).
Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Psychosis Psychosis is athought disorder characterized by disturbances of reality and perception, impaired cognitive functioning, and inappropriate or diminished affect (mood). Psychosis denotes many mental disorders. Schizophrenia is a particular kind of psychosis characterized mainly by a clear sensorium but a marked thinking disturbance.
  • 3.
    Psychosis-Producing Drugs 1) Levodopa 2)CNS stimulants a) Cocaine b) Amphetamines c) Khat, cathinone, methcathinone 5) Apomorphine 6) Phencyclidine
  • 4.
    Schizophrenia • Pathogenesis isunknown. • Onset of schizophrenia is in the late teens - early ‘20s. • Genetic predisposition -- Familial incidence. • Multiple genes are involved. • Afflicts 1% of the population worldwide. • May or may not be present with anatomical changes.
  • 5.
    Schizophrenia • A thoughtdisorder. • The disorder is characterized by a divorcement from reality in the mind of the person (psychosis). • It may involve visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, intense suspicion, feelings of persecution or control by external forces (paranoia), depersonalization, and there is attachment of excessive personal significance to daily events, called “ideas of reference”.
  • 6.
    Schizophrenia Positive Symptoms. Hallucinations, delusions,paranoia, ideas of reference. Negative Symptoms. Apathy, social withdrawal, anhedonia, emotional blunting, cognitive deficits, extreme inattentiveness or lack of motivation to interact with the environment. These symptoms are progressive and non-responsive to medication.
  • 7.
    Etiology of Schizophrenia Idiopathic BiologicalCorrelates 1) Genetic Factors 2) Neurodevelopmental abnormalities. 3) Environmental stressors.
  • 8.
    Etiology of Schizophrenia Characterizedby several structural and functional abnormalities in the brains of schizophrenic patients: 1) Enlarge cerebral ventricles. 2) Atrophy of cortical layers. 3) Reduced volume of the basal ganglia.
  • 9.
    Dopamine Theory ofSchizophrenia Many lines of evidence point to the aberrant increased activity of the dopaminergic system as being critical in the symptomatology of schizophrenia. There is a greater occupancy of D2 receptors by dopamine => greater dopaminergic stimulation
  • 10.
    Dopamine Theory ofSchizophrenia Dopamine Correlates: • Antipsychotics reduce dopamine synaptic activity. • These drugs produce Parkinson-like symptoms. • Drugs that increase DA in the limbic system cause psychosis. • Drugs that reduce DA in the limbic system (postsynaptic D2 antagonists) reduce psychosis. • Increased DA receptor density (Post-mortem, PET). • Changes in amount of homovanillic acid (HVA), a DA metabolite, in plasma, urine, and CSF.
  • 11.
    Pharmacodynamics Anatomic Correlates ofSchizophrenia... Areas Associated with Mood and Thought Processes: Frontal cortex Amygdala Hippocampus Nucleus accumbens Limbic Cortex
  • 12.
    Dopamine Theory ofSchizophrenia Evidence against the Theory? • Antipsychotics are only partially effective in most (70%) and ineffective for some patients. • Phencyclidine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, produces more schizophrenia-like symptoms in non- schizophrenic subjects than DA agonists. • Atypical antipsychotics have low affinity for D2 receptors. • Focus is broader now and research is geared to produce drugs with less extrapyramidal effects.
  • 13.
    Dopamine System There arefour major pathways for the dopaminergic system in the brain: I. The Nigro-Stiatal Pathway. II. The Mesolimbic Pathway. III. The Mesocortical Pathway. IV. The Tuberoinfundibular Pathway.
  • 14.
  • 15.
    Catecholamines Tyrosine ⇓ Tyrosine hydroxylase L-Dopa ⇓Dopa decarboxylase Dopamine (DA) ⇓ Dopamine β hydroxylase Norepinephrine (NE) (Noradrenaline) Phenylethanolamine- ⇓ -N-methyltransferase Epinephrine (EPI) (Adrenaline)
  • 16.
  • 17.
    Dopamine System • DOPAMINERECEPTORS – There are at least 5 subtypes of receptors: – D1 and D5: mostly involved in postsynaptic inhibition. – D2, D3, and D4: involved in both pre-and postsynaptic inhibition. D2: the predominant subtype in the brain: regulates mood, emotional stability in the limbic system and movement control in the basal ganglia.
  • 20.
  • 22.
    Antipsychotic treatments SCHIZOPHRENIA ISFOR LIFE There is no remission
  • 23.
    Antipsychotic treatments Schizophrenia hasbeen around perhaps, since the beginning of humankind, however, it was not until the last century that it was established as a separate entity amongst other mental disorders. Many treatments have been devised:  Hydrotherapy: “The pouring of cold water in a stream, from a height of at least four feet onto the forehead, is one of the most certain means of subsiding violent, maniacal excitement that we have ever seen tried”... wrote an anonymous physician in the early 1800’s.
  • 24.
    Antipsychotic treatments  Lobotomies(Egaz Moniz).  In 1940’s Phenothiazenes were isolated and were used as pre-anesthetic medication, but quickly were adopted by psychiatrists to calm down their mental patients.  In 1955, chlorpromazine was developed as an antihistaminic agent by Rhône-Pauline Laboratories in France. In-patients at Mental Hospitals dropped by 1/3.
  • 25.
    Antipsychotics treatment Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics • Antipsychoticsare the drugs currently used in the prevention of psychosis. • They have also been termed neuroleptics, because they suppress motor activity and emotionality. ** These drugs are not a cure ** • Schizophrenics must be treated with medications indefinitely, in as much as the disease in lifelong and it is preferable to prevent the psychotic episodes than to treat them.
  • 26.
    Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics Although the antipsychotic/neurolepticsare drugs used mainly in the treatment of schizophrenia, they are also used in the treatment of other psychoses associated with depression and manic- depressive illness, and psychosis associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These conditions are life- long and disabling.
  • 27.
  • 28.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics Three major groups: 1) Phenothiazines 2) Thioxanthines 3) Butyrophenones OLDER DRUGS
  • 29.
    Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics Dopamine Synapse DA L-DOPA Tyrosine Tyrosine • Oldantiphsychotics /neuroleptics are D2 dopamine receptor antagonists. Although they are also effective antagonists at ACh, 5-HT, NE receptors. dopamine receptor antagonist D2
  • 30.
    Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics • It appearsthat the specific interaction of antipsychotic drugs with D2 receptors is important to their therapeutic action. • The affinities of most older “classical” agents for the D2 receptors correlate with their clinical potencies as antipsychotics.
  • 31.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics Correlations between therapeuticpotency and affinity for binding D2 receptors.[3H]Haloperidolbinding IC50(mol/L) Clinical dose of drug [mg d-1] haloperidol clozapine thiothixene chlorpromazine promazine spiroperidole
  • 32.
    Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics • Both D1and D2 receptors are found in high concentrations in the striatum and the nucleus accumbens. • Clozapine has a higher affinity for the D4 receptors than for D2. • Recently it has been found that most antipsychotic drugs may also bind D3 receptors (therefore, they are non-selective).
  • 33.
    Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics • Antipsychotics producecatalepsy (reduce motor activity). – BLOCKADE OF DOPAMINE RECPTORS IN BASAL GANGLIA. • Antipsychotics reverse hyperkinetic behaviors (increased locomotion and stereotyped behavior). – BLOCKADE OF DOPAMINE RECPTORS IN LIMBIC AREAS. • Antipsychotics prevent the dopamine inhibition of prolactin release from pituitary. – BLOCKADE OF DOPAMINE RECEPTORS IN PITUITARY.  hyperprolactinemia
  • 34.
    Pharmacokinetics Absorption and Distribution •Most antipsychotics are readily but incompletely absorbed. • Significant first-pass metabolism. • Bioavailability is 25-65%. • Most are highly lipid soluble. • Most are highly protein bound (92-98%). • High volumes of distribution (>7 L/Kg). • Slow elimination. **Duration of action longer than expected, metabolites are present and relapse occurs, weeks after discontinuation of drug.**
  • 35.
    Pharmacokinetics Metabolism • Most antipsychoticsare almost completely metabolized. • Most have active metabolites, although not important in therapeutic effect, with one exception. The metabolite of thioridazine, mesoridazine, is more potent than the parent compound and accounts for most of the therapeutic effect.
  • 36.
    Pharmacokinetics Excretion • Antipsychotics arealmost completely metabolized and thus, very little is eliminated unchanged. • Elimination half-lives are 10-24 hrs.
  • 37.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics 1) Phenothiazines Chlorpromazine ThioridazineFluphenazine Trifluopromazine PiperacetazinePerfenazine Mesoridazine Acetophenazine Carphenazine Prochlorperazine Trifluoperazine • Aliphatic Piperidine Piperazine* * Most likely to cause extrapyramidal effects.
  • 38.
  • 39.
  • 40.
  • 41.
  • 42.
    Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics • Newer drugshave higher affinities for D1, 5- HT or α-AR receptors. • NE, GABA, Glycine and Glutamate have also been implicated in schizophrenia.
  • 43.
    Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics The acute effectsof antipsychotics do not explain why their therapeutic effects are not evident until 4-8 weeks of treatment. Blockade of D2 receptors  Short term/Compensatory effects: ⇑ Firing rate and activity of nigrostriatal and mesolimbic DA neurons. ⇑ DA synthesis, DA metabolism, DA release
  • 44.
    Antipsychotics/Neuroleptics Presynaptic Effects Blockade ofD2 receptors  Compensatory Effects ⇑ Firing rate and activity of nigrostriatal and mesolimbic DA neurons. ⇑ DA synthesis, DA metabolism, DA release. Postsynaptic Effects Depolarization Blockade Inactivation of nigrostriatal and mesolimbic DA neurons.  Receptor Supersensitivity
  • 45.
  • 46.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics ClinicalEx. Py. Drug Potencytoxicity Sedation Hypote. Chlorpromaz. Low Medium Medium High Haloperidol High Very High Very High Low Thiothixene High Medium Medium Medium Clozapine Medium Very low Low Medium Ziprasidone Medium Very Low Low Very low Risperidone High Low Low Low Olanzapine High Very Low Medium Very low Sertindole High Very Low Very low Very Low
  • 47.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics Chlorpromazine: α1 =5-HT2 = D2 > D1 > M > α2 Haloperidol: D2 > D1 = D4 > α1 > 5-HT2 >H1>M = α2 Clozapine: D4 = α1 > 5-HT2 = M > D2 = D1 = α2 ; H1 Quetiapine: 5-HT2 = D2 = α1 = α2 ; H1 Risperidone: 5-HT2 >> α1 > H1 > D2 > α2 >> D1 Sertindole: 5-HT2 > D2 = α1
  • 48.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics Clinical Problems withantipsychotic drugs include: 1) Failure to control negative effect 2) Significant toxicity a) Parkinson-like symptoms b) Tardive Dyskinesia (10-30%) c) Autonomic effects d) Endocrine effects e) Cardiac effects 3) Poor Concentration
  • 49.
    The Nigro-Striatal Pathway Inhibition of MotorActivity DA neuron ACh neuron GABA neuron GABA neuron Substanti a Nigra + - - - - Striatum
  • 50.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics  Some antipsychoticshave effects at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors: dry mouth blurred vision urinary retention constipation Clozapine Chlorpromazine Thioridazine
  • 51.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics  Some antipsychoticshave effects at α−adrenergic receptors: • orthostatic hypotension Chlorpromazine Thioridazine  Some antipsychotics have effects at H1-histaminergic receptors: • sedation Risperidone Haloperidol
  • 52.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics  Blockade ofD2 receptors in lactotrophs in breast increase prolactin concentration and may produce breast engorgement and galactorrhea.
  • 53.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Isa rare but serious side effect of neuroleptic (antipsychotic) therapy that can be lethal. It can arise at any time in the course of treatment and shows no predilection for age, duration of treatment, antipsychotic medication, or dose.
  • 54.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome •Occurs in pts. hypersensitive to the Ex.Py. effects of antipsychotics. • Due to excessively rapid blockade of postsynaptic dopamine receptors. • The syndrome begins with marked muscle rigidity. • If sweating is impaired, a fever may ensue. The stress leukocytosis and high fever associated with this syndrome may be mistaken for an infection. • Autonomic instability with altered blood pressure and heart rate is another midbrain manifestation. • Creatine kinase isozymes are usually elevated, reflecting muscle damage.
  • 55.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Treatment Vigoroustreatment with antiparkinsonian drugs is recommended as soon as possible. Muscle relaxants such as diazepam, dantrolene or bromocriptine may be helpful.
  • 56.
    Antipsychotic/Neuroleptics Drug Interactions • Additiveeffects with sedatives. • Additive effects with anticholinergics. • Additive effects with antihistaminergics. • Additive effects with α-AR blocking drugs. • Additive effects with drugs with quinidine-like action (thioridazine).

Editor's Notes

  • #17 The synapse and synaptic neurotransmission
  • #20 Dopamine and the production of cyclic AMP
  • #21 Dopamine binding to receptors and uptake pumps in the nucleus accumbens
  • #58 Antipsychotic drugs (neuroleptics)