Psychopharmacology and Mental Health

In the treatment of psychosis through medication, Seroquel is not the only drug that can be prescribed, and not the only drug with side effects and withdrawal symptoms. Some of the other drugs commonly prescribed to patients suffering from psychosis are Clozapine (Clozaril), Iloperidone (Fanapt), Lurasidone (Latuda), and Rexulti (Brexpoprazole) (Linda, 2017). Clozaril is known as one of the most effective antipsychotics due to its higher affinity for the limbic areas of the brain rather than the striatal areas (Linda, 2017). Other than this key characteristic, it works similarly to Seroquel including its side effects. Fanapt is an antipsychotic that is structurally different from the other atypical antipsychotics (Linda, 2017). This drug works as an antagonist for both D₂ and 5-HT₂ receptors with a low affinity for histamine and muscarinic receptors (Linda, 2017). The effects of this drug causes minimal weight gain, but it is associated with orthostatic hypotension (alpha blockade) therefore not making it any more effective than existing atypical antipsychotics (Linda, 2017).

Latuda is a strong antagonist of both D₂ and 5-HT₂ receptors with little interaction with histamine, therefor causing minimal weight gain (Linda, 2017). The sedation, and mood improvement effects of this drug are apparently caused by its antagonistic interactions with 5-HT₇ receptors (Linda, 2017). It is suggested that this drug could potentially improve cognitive functioning by promoting nerve growth due to an upregulation of brain-derived neurotropic factors (BDNF) in the PFC (Linda, 2017). Brexpoprazole is a newer antipsychotic that acts on D₂ and 5-HT_1A receptors as a partial agonist, and 5-HT_2A receptors as an antagonist (Linda, 2017). This drug also promotes nerve growth in the PFC like Latuda, and has a risk for weight gain (Linda, 2017).

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