Join the What Doctors Don't Tell You community now -
and be informed for when it really matters

Register now for our vital and insightful health updates that have been described as some of “the best in the world”.

email to friend Printer friendly

News

Antipsychotics: paralysis is a risk

01 November 1999

Acute dystonia, a form of muscle paralysis which can leave an individual in any number of sustained abnormal postures, is a common but overlooked side effect of antipsychotic and other drugs, according to a recent review.

In a study of the available literature, researchers in the Netherlands found that, depending on individual risk factors, dystonia can occurr as a result of antipsychotics use, anywhere from 2 to 90 per cent of cases. Those most at risk are between the ages of 10 and 19, white, males, those with a previous experience of dystonia, cocaine users, those with affective disorders and those with hypocalcaemia, dehydration or hypothyroidism.

High potency antipsy chotics such as haloperidol, fluphenazine and pimozide were seen to cause dystonia more frequently than do low potency drugs such as chlorpromazine and thioridazine. Clozapine is the only known atypical antipsychotic drug that does not induce dystonia. Antiemetic and antidepressant drugs are also implicated in dystonia (BMJ 1999; 319: 623-6).

Thioridazine - Several years ago, the warning flag went up for the antipsychotic drug thioridazine, marketed as Melleril. Both the UK and US drug regulatory authorit...

New antipsychotics no better than old ones - Atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine and sertindole appear to be no more effective than conventional drugs, according to a report by UK rese...

Are new antipsychotics superior to conventional ones? - The so-called ‘atypical antipsychotic drugs’ have been hailed as a pharmaceutical breakthrough and have, by now, largely replaced the old guard of neu...

Antipsychotics - Killers by any name - We’ve covered the health hazards of ‘atypical’ antipsychotics, including the recent FDA warning that they increase mortality among elderly patients. B...

Antipsychotics may be toxic to the heart - Data from an international review suggest that a wide range of antipsychotic drugs can result in heart muscle damage. ...

Antipsychotic Drugs - Olanzapine - Q My wife and daughter were both put onto olanzapine (Zyprexa) last year, having been prescribed other antipsychotic drugs for 30 and 10 years, respec...

Antipsychotics: - They don't work, and they're dangerous - Doctors in nursing homes prescribe antipsychotic drugs with the same lack of thought that the service staff employs to place the order for tomorrow's...

News antipsychotics - Fatal figures suppressed - Drug companies have been accused of suppressing vital data showing that their new-generation atypical antipsychotics are killing around one in four el...

Register for our health updates and free gifts.

How You Beat Asthma
How To Beat Your M.E.
How You Beat ADHD
How You Beat Arthritis
How You Beat Backpain
How You Beat Depression How You Beat Pain
How You Beat The Menopause
How You Beat Heart Problems
WDDTY Health Shop

Join the What Doctors Don't Tell You community now - and be informed for when it really matters

Antipsychotics: paralysis is a risk

Join the What Doctors Don't Tell You community now -
and be informed for when it really matters