Atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of bipolar disorder - Pharmacological and clinical effects

Atypical antipsychotics are characterised by a low propensity for causing a cute and tardive extrapyramidal symptoms and an increased efficacy against positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. A growing literature sugge sts clozapine and other atypical antipsychotics, including olanzapine, risp eridone, and possibly quetiapine and ziprasidone, are also effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder, particularly the manic phase. Symptoms that are refractory to other drugs may respond to these agents. However, antips ychotic treatment can be associated with serious adverse effects, and cauti on needs to be exercised in the prescription of these agents.