Download - Neuroleptics (Anti-psychotic Drugs)
Neuroleptics(Anti-psychotic Drugs)
Kaukab Azim, MBBS, PhD
Drug ListTypical Neuroleptics
(First generation anti-psychotics) Atypical Neuroleptics (second Generation anit-
psychoticsPhenothiazines Butyrophenones Others
Chlorpromazine Haloperidol Thiotixene Clozapine
Thioridazine Molindone Olanzapine
Fluphenazine Qietiapine
Prochlorperazine* Risperidone
Aripiprazole
* Will be covered in another lecture
Learning OutcomesBy the end of the course the students will be able to
☛ Outline the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia.
☛ Explain the mechanism of action of each drug in each class.
☛ Describe the antipsychotic action of neuroleptics.
☛ List the main pharmacokinetic features of neuroleptics
☛ Outline the use of depot preparations of fluphenazine and haloperidol
☛ Describe the main adverse effects of neuroleptics
☛ List the main contraindications of neuroleptics
☛ Outline the main therapeutic uses of neuroleptics.
Pharmacodynamics of NeurolepticsMechanism of action
☛ Neuroleptics block many different receptors.
☛ The therapeutic effects of neuroleptics are though to result from competitive blockade of dopamine (mainly D2) and/or serotonin (mainly 5-HT2A) receptors.
☛ The adverse effects of neuroleptics seem to result from the blockade of D2 receptor in the substantia nigra as well as from blockade of a variety of receptors both in the central and autonomic nervous system
Pharmacodynamics of NeurolepticsNeuroleptic can be broadly classified into the following groups:
1. Typical agents ☛ (which can be further subdivided in low potency and
high potency agents)☛ These drugs have high D2 antagonism and low 5-HT2A
antagonism.
2. Atypical agents
☛ These drugs have low (clozapine) or moderate D2 antagonism and high 5-HT2A antagonism.
Pharmacodynamics of NeurolepticsPharmacological effects
a.In normal individuals:
☛ Dysphoric effects are common (this can explain why this drugs have negligible abuse liability)
b. In schizophrenic patients☛ Positive schizophrenic symptoms(delusion,hallucinations &
thought disorders) usually subside in 1-4 weeks and are about equally affected by typical and atypical agents.
☛ Negative schizophrenic symptoms(withdrawal,blunted emotions & reduce ability to relate to people) are minimally affected by typical neuroleptics but more so by atypical neuroleptics (the higher blockade of 5-HT2 receptors may contribute to this effect).
Pharmacodynamics of NeurolepticsOther effects
☛ Inhibition of nausea and vomiting (due to blockade of D2 receptors mainly in the CTZ, but also in the stomach
☛ Inhibition of thermo-regulation (due to inhibition of the hypothalamic thermostat)
Pharmacokinetics of Neuroleptics☛ Variable oral bioavailability (0.25-0.70)
☛ Large Vd.
☛ Extensive metabolism by the liver.
☛ Long half-lives (12-55 hours) for most compounds .
☛ Administered PO, IM , IV. For some compounds depot preparations are available (i.e. fluphenazine decanoate, haloperidol decanoate)(depot:It is a special preparation of the medication, which is given by injection. The medication is slowly released into the body over a number of weeks)
Receptor Affinity of Typical and Atypical Neuroleptics
D2 D4 5-HT2A H1 M Alpha1
Typical agents (first generation neuroleptics)
Chlorpromazine +++ 0 ++ ++ +++ +++
Thioridazine +++ 0 ++ + +++ +++
Fluphenazine +++ 0 + 0 0 +
Haloperidol +++ 0 + 0 0 +
Atypical agents (second generation neuroleptics)
Clozapine ++ ++ +++ + +++ +++
Aripiprazole +++ 0 ++ + 0 ++
Quitiapine + + ++ + + ++
Olanzapine ++ + +++ ++ +++ ++
Risperidone +++ + +++ + 0 +++
Relative incidence of Adverse Effects of Neuroleptics
DrugExtra
PyramidalSymptoms
ProlactinElevation Sedation Anticholinergic
EffectsPostural
Hypertension
Chlorpromazine Medium Present High High High
Thioridazine Low Present High High High
Fluphenazine High Present Low Low Low
Haloperidol High Present Low Low Low
Clozapine Very Low None High High High
Quetiapine Very Low None Medium Low Medium
Olanzapine Very Low None Medium High Medium
Risperidone Medium Present Medium Low Medium
Aripiprazole Very Low None Low Low Medium
Extrapyramidal Adverse Effects of Neuroleptics
Syndrome Features Proposed mechanism Treatment
Acute dystonia Spasms of muscles of tongue, face, and neck Unknown Anti-Parkinson
Drugs
Akathisia Motor restlessness UnknownAnti-ParkinsonDrugsBenzodiazepinesPropranolol
Parkinsonism Bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor
DopamineAntagonism
Anti-ParkinsonDrugs
Tardive dyskinesiaOral-facial, dyskinesia, choreoathetosis,Dystonias
Up-regulation of D2 receptors
Prevention.Treatment is unsatisfactory
Tardive DyskinesiaEtiology
Long term treatment with typical neuroleptics endowed with strong extrapyramidal effects (the risk of the syndrome is much lower with atypical neuroleptic)
Symptoms and signs☛Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by:
a. The buccal-lingual masticatory syndrome (grimacing(foul smell), chewing, tongue protrusion, lip smacking(make a noise with the lip), puckering(gather into a small wrinkles)
b. Choreiform(jerky involantary movement), athetoid(Twist) or rhythmic movements of neck and trunk (torsion and torticollis) arms and legs (pill rolling, toe tapping and writhing(Twist)
Tardive DyskinesiaClinical course and prognosis
☛ Early signs of tardive dyskinesia can be reversible
☛ If the disease is not detected or allowed to persist, it can become irreversible even with drug discontinuation.
Therapy
☛ Prevention is important
☛ No drug treatment is satisfactory.
☛ Switching to an atypical neuroleptic (clozapine) is the favored first-line therapeutic strategy.
Adverse Effects of NeurolepticsCNS☛ Sedative effects, usually perceived unpleasant by normal individuals (dysphoria,
dizziness).☛ Extrapyramidal effects.☛ Seizures,(neuroleptics lower the convulsive threshold).The risk is substantial with
clozapine (2-5%).
☛ Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (catatonia(person become mute or stuporous), stupor(a condition of near unconsciousness), fever, unstable blood pressure, myoglobinuria). It can be fatal. Dantrolene is the drug of choice, bromocriptine may help.
Gastrointestinal system☛ Xerostomia, constipation.☛ Cholestatic jaundice (mainly with chlorpromazine)☛ Sialorrhea (with clozapine. Up to 70 %)
Adverse Effects of NeurolepticsGenitourinary system☛ Urinary retention, urinary incontinence.☛ Sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory
abnormalities).
Metabolic/Endocrine system☛ Hyperprolactinemia (can lead to amenorrhea, galactorrhea,
anovulation in women, gynecomastia and azoospermia in men)☛ Weight gain (mainly with clozapine and olanzapine)☛ Hyperglycemia, diabetes (mainly with clozapine and
olanzapine)☛ Poikilothermia (with high doses)
Adverse Effects of NeurolepticsCardiovascular system
☛Orthostatic hypotension (manly with lower potency drugs)
☛ Cardiac arrhythmias (mainly with thioridazine) [patients with long Q-T intervals are at greater risk]
☛Myocarditis (with clozapine. The disease can be lethal)
Other adverse effects
☛ Cornea, lens and retinal deposits (mainly with thioridazine)☛ Blurred vision☛Urticaria, skin rash (phenothiazines, 1-5%).☛ Photosensitivity (phenothiazines)☛ Agranulocytosis (with clozapine. About 1%)
Neuroleptic Drug Interactions of Clinical Importance
Neuroleptic Interacting drug Effect of the interaction
All☛ Class 1 and class 3
anti-arrhythmics☛ Quinolones
Life threatening arrhythmias
Low potency typical and most atypicals Anti-cholinergics Increased anti-muscarinic effects
Phenothiazines SSRIs Inhibition of phenothiazine metabolism
Haloperidol Azoles Inhibition of haloperidol metabolism
Haloperidol Lithium Extrapyrimidal effects and/or lithium toxicity are increased
Clozapine Caffeine Inhibition of clozapine metabolism
Clozapine SSRIs Inhibition of clozapine metabolism
Clozapine Ritonavir Strong inhibition of clozapine metabolism
Risperidone SSRIs Inhibition of risperidone metabolism
Summary of Adverse Effects of Neuroleptics
Typical neuroleptics
☛ Low potency drugs (most phenothiazines and thioxanthenes) have low extrapyramidal effects and high or intermediate sedative, antimuscarinic and hypotensive effects.
☛ High potency drugs (fluphenazine, prochlorperazine, butyrophenones) have high extrapyramidal effects and low sedative, antimuscarinic and hypotensive effects.
☛ All drugs increase serum prolactin levels.
☛ All drugs, but thioridazine, have good antiemetic effects.
☛ All drug can cause cardiac arrhythmias, due to an increase in QT intervals.
Atypical neuroleptics
☛ All drugs have low or negligible extrapyramidal effects
☛ All drugs have negligible effects on serum prolactin levels.
☛ All drugs can cause cardiac arrhythmias, due to an increase in QT intervals
☛ Most drugs have significant sedative, antimuscarinic and hypotensive effects.
Summary of Adverse Effects of Neuroleptics
Contraindications and Precautions of Neuroleptics
Contraindications / Precautions Explanations
States of CNS depression Addictive effects
Parkinson’s disease Blockade of D2 receptors can worsen the disease
Seizure disorders Neuroleptic lower the seizure threshold
Catatonia The risk of neuroleptic malignant is increased
Long Q-T intervals, cardiac arrhythmias The risk of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is increased
Glaucoma Several neuroleptics have pronounced anti-muscarinic effects
Catatonia is a state of neurogenic motor immobility, and behavioral abnormality manifested by stupor.
Contraindications and Precautions of Neuroleptics
Contraindications / Precautions Explanations
Bone Marrow suppression(clozapine)
The risk of clozapine induced agranulocytosis is increased
Hypovolemia, hypotension Several neuroleptics have alpha1 blocking activity
Prostatic hypertrophy Several neuroleptics have pronounced anti-muscarinic effects
History of breast cancer Some breast cancers are prolactin-dependent
Elderly Sensitivity to anti-cholinergic effects is increased.
Therapeutic Uses of NeurolepticsPsychiatric indications
☛ Acute psychosis (manic phase of bipolar disorder, etc.)
☛ Agitation, delirium (in mentally retarded or demented patients)
☛ Irritability, in autistic children and adolescents (risperidone)
☛ Schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders
☛ Tourette’s syndrome
☛ Huntington’s disease
☛ Alcoholic hallucinosis
Therapeutic Uses of NeurolepticsNonpsychiatric indications
☛ Nausea and vomiting (some phenothiazines)
☛ Neuroleptanalgesia (droperidol & fentanyl)
☛ Pruritus (promethazine)
Notes
☞ Atypical neuroleptics seem to have higher efficacy, particularly for negative symptoms, cognition and mood. However the issue is still controversial.
☞ Only clozapine has shown superiority over other neuroleptics in randomized clinical trials for the management of treatment resistant schizophrenia.