Which side effects are characteristic of atypical antipsychotics?

Which side effects are characteristic of atypical antipsychotics?

• A. Increased tardive dyskinesia
• B. Less incidence of weight gain
• C. Fewer extrapyramidal effects
• D. More extrapyramidal effects

Answer: (C)

Atypical antipsychotics have a lower risk of movement-related side effects, known as extrapyramidal symptoms, compared with typical antipsychotics. This comes from their pharmacology: they still block dopamine D2 receptors but also strongly block serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. The 5-HT2A blockade helps dopamine release in the motor pathways, which reduces the likelihood of dystonia, parkinsonism, akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia that are common with older antipsychotics. So, their characteristic side effect profile includes fewer extrapyramidal effects. They can still cause other issues like metabolic changes (weight gain, glucose and lipid abnormalities) and sometimes hyperprolactinemia depending on the drug, but extrapyramidal symptoms are less typical.

Atypical antipsychotics have a lower risk of movement-related side effects, known as extrapyramidal symptoms, compared with typical antipsychotics. This comes from their pharmacology: they still block dopamine D2 receptors but also strongly block serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. The 5-HT2A blockade helps dopamine release in the motor pathways, which reduces the likelihood of dystonia, parkinsonism, akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia that are common with older antipsychotics. So, their characteristic side effect profile includes fewer extrapyramidal effects. They can still cause other issues like metabolic changes (weight gain, glucose and lipid abnormalities) and sometimes hyperprolactinemia depending on the drug, but extrapyramidal symptoms are less typical.