The currently available newer anti psychotic medications are preferred over the older medications as a treatment for schizophrenia, chiefly because they have less serious side effects. The newer atypical antipsychotics include
- Aripiprazole (Abilify)
- Clozapine (Clozaril)
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- Paliperidone (Invega)
- Quetiapine (Seroquel)
- Risperidone (Risperdal)
- Ziprasidone (Geodon)
Side effects of these newer atypical antipsychotic medications include mild to moderate weight gain, high blood sugar and cholesterol.
Unfortunately, all the newer anti psychotics are expensive and often do not work in all individuals. Sometimes they may work initially and then stop working. Because many psychiatrists work as paid consultants for the drug industry, it is hard to tell which of these drugs really works well. No doctor is going to bite the hand that feeds them a lot of money. Therefore, in some cases, bad drugs are marketed and their side effects are hidden. Such is life in the world of psychiatry.
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