Typical antipsychotic

Typical antipsychotics (conventional antipsychotics), are a class of antipsychotic drugs first developed in the 1950s and used to treat psychosis (in particular schizophrenia), are generally being replaced by atypical antipsychotic drugs.

Common Side Effects

Common side effects include: dry-mouth, muscle-stiffness, muscle-cramping, tremors, and weight-gain.

Risks of serious side-effects

There is also a significant risk of the serious condition tardive dyskinesia developing as a side-effect of typical antipsychotics. Although the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia after chronic typical antipsychotic usage varies on several factors, such as age and gender, the average prevalence is approximately 30% [1]. Benztropine and diphenhydramine are commonly prescribed to treat the sypmtoms of tardive dyskenesia. However, these symptoms can be permanent, despite discontinuation of the medication.

Less common, but much more serious side effects include neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Typical Medications

• Chlorpromazine
• Fluphenazine (Prolixin^®)
• Haloperidol (Haldol^®)
• Molindone
• Thiothixene
• Thioridazine (Mellaril^®)
• Trifluoperazine
• Loxapine