Antipsychotic Drugs and Their Side-Effects (Neuroscience Perspectives) [Hardcover]

Thomas R.E. Barnes (Editor), Peter Jenner (Series Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0120790351 | ISBN-13: 978-0120790357 | Publication Date: January 20, 1994 | Edition: United States ed

In line with other volumes in the Neuroscience Perspectives Series, this volume covers the background, pharmacology, molecular biology, and biochemistry of antipsychotic drugs, together with an overview assessment of the therapeutic considerations. Over the past 40 years, the effectiveness of conventional neuroleptic agents for psychotic illness has been offset by a wide range of adverse side-effects, including motor side-effects like parkinsonism. Studies show that lowering doses may still produce the antipsychotic effect while lessening the risk of side-effects. As all available antispychotic drugs are able to block dopamine, specifically D2 receptors, doses below the threshold level for producing acute motor disorder can still be therapeutically effective. With the identification and characterization of multiple dopamine receptors, the possibility of more selective drugs with better side-effect potential has arisen. Other novel antipsychotic agents include D1 receptor blockers, partial dopamine agonists and non-dopamine drugs such as 5-HT receptor blockers, sigma receptor antagonists and NMDA receptor agonists. This volume reviews both the basic science of the conventional and atypical neuroleptics and their present and potential therapeutic use.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Neuroscience Perspectives provides multidisciplinary reviews of topics in one of the most diverse and rapidly changing fields in the life sciences.
Whether you are a new recruit to neuroscience, or an established expert, look to this series for 'one-stop' sources of the historical, physiological, pharmacological, biochemical, molecular biological and therapeutic aspects of chosen research areas.
Over the past 40 years, the effectiveness of conventional neuroleptic agents for psychotic illness has been offset by a wide range of adverse side-effects, including movement disorders like parkinsonism and akathisia; although, in many cases, these can be minimised by titration to the minimum effective dose. However, the introduction of the atypical neuroleptic, clozapine, with a lower liability for motor side-effects, and efficacy for both positive and negative symptoms in patients unresponsive to conventional neuroleptics raised expectations of effective medication with fewer adverse effects. Further, with the identification and characterization of multiple dopamine receptors, the possibility of more selective drugs with an inherently better side-effect potential has arisen.
This volume covers both the basic science of neuroleptic drugs and their clinical use. The pharmacology of the conventional and atypical drugs is reviewed, as well as the pharmacokinetics, effects on neuronal and synaptic structure and the contribution of brain imaging techniques to our understanding of the effects of antipsychotic drugs on brain function. The clinical indications for these agents are discussed as well as their use in both acute and maintenance therapy in psychotic illness. The advantages and disadvantages of depot preparations and the broad range of potential side-effects are also considered.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 287 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; United States ed edition (January 20, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0120790351
• ISBN-13: 978-0120790357
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,136,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)