Atypical antipsychotic

Uncommon card · No. 107552

Atypical antipsychotics (AAP), also known as second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) and serotonin–dopamine antagonists (SDAs), are a group of antipsychotic drugs (also generally known as tranquilizers and neuroleptics) used to treat psychiatric conditions. Largely introduced after the 1970s, most are approved for schizophrenia, with some having received additional approval for bipolar disorder, irritability in autism, and as an adjunct in major depressive disorder. Both typical and atypical antipsychotics are characterized by blocking receptors in the brain's dopamine pathways. Atypical antipsychotics are loosely delineated for additionally blocking activity at the 5-HT2A receptor. The utility of this classification, "atypical" vs "typical" (or "first" vs "second" generation), has been questioned, noting that each agent has its own efficacy and side-effect profile, and that this label may take away from a more nuanced view of individual properties. Although thought to be safer than typical...

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