UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Toxicology

Title: Atypical antipsychotics: are they truly safer than typical antipsychotics?

Keywords: atypical antipsychotic toxicity (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/8/2016 by Hong Kim, MD, MPH (Updated: 4/24/2024)
Click here to contact Hong Kim, MD, MPH

Antipsychotic as a class has diverse range of toxicity. The atypical (2nd generation) antipsychotics are considered to possess less toxicologic manifestation compared to the typical (1st generation) antipsychotics - lower K channel blockade and minimum Na channel blockade properties. However, select atypical antipsychotics overdose can results in significant morbidity in addition to sedation.

 

Alpha-1 blockade (hypotension)

  • Clozapine
  • Olanzapine
  • Quetiapine
  • Risperidone
  • Ziprasidone

 

Antimuscarinic effect (anticholinergic toxicity)

  • Clozapine
  • Olanzapine
  • Quetiapine

 

Delayed rectifier K channel blockade (QT prolongation)

  • Ertindole
  • Ziprasidone

 

Bottom line:  Although lethal overdose from atypical antipsychotics are rare, they can result in significant clinical toxicity when ingested alone or in combintation with other classes of medications.