Drug Therapy

Question 1

What are antipsychotic drugs used for?

Answer 1

• Used to treat psychotic illnesses like
  schizophrenia & manic depression
• Typical antipsychotics (chlorpromazine) - treat positive symptoms of schizophrenia
  caused by overactivity of dopamine
• Atypical antipsychotics (clozapine) - treat positive & claim to treat negative symptoms

Question 2

How do typical antipsychotics work?

Answer 2

• Reduce effects of dopamine in the brain, reducing symptoms of schizophrenia
• Dopamine antagonists - bind to but don’t stimulate dopamine receptors (particularly D2 receptors in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway) thus blocking their action

Question 3

How do atypical antipsychotics work?

Answer 3

• Temporarily occupy dopamine receptors & then dissociate to allow for normal
  dopamine transmission
• This is thought to be what contributes to the lower levels of side effects found
• Also act on the serotonin system