Types of medicine
What Is an Atypical Antipsychotic? Its Warnings Explained
Atypical antipsychotic · say it: ay-TIP-ih-kul AN-tee-sy-KOT-ikAlso written: second-generation antipsychotic, SGA, atypical antipsychotics
Short answer
An atypical antipsychotic is a newer type of antipsychotic medicine used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and sometimes depression or other conditions.
What it means
Atypical, or second-generation, antipsychotics are medicines that act on brain chemical messengers such as dopamine and serotonin. Examples include quetiapine, olanzapine, risperidone, aripiprazole and clozapine. They are used for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and some are added to antidepressants for depression or used for other conditions.
Their labels carry a boxed warning about a higher risk of death in older people with dementia-related psychosis, and, for those approved for depression, about suicidal thoughts in young people. They also warn about weight gain, high blood sugar and cholesterol (so regular checks are advised), drowsiness, dizziness on standing, tardive dyskinesia and, rarely, neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
'Atypical' means newer, with a different side effect pattern from older 'typical' antipsychotics; it does not mean unusual or experimental.
Where you may see it
- Boxed warnings on quetiapine, olanzapine, risperidone and aripiprazole labels
- Medication guides with these prescriptions
- Psychiatry and mental health clinic letters
📄 How it looks on a report
Monitor patients for hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and weight gain during treatment.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Being prescribed one does not always mean you have psychosis; they are used for several conditions.
- 'Atypical' does not mean experimental.
- It does not mean side effects are unavoidable; many are monitored and managed.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Atypical antipsychotic”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Atypical antipsychotic”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Aripiprazole
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Insulin Glargine
an insulin analog, a long-acting man-made insulin used to treat diabetes
- Olanzapine
An atypical antipsychotic, a prescription medicine used for certain mental health conditions
- Quetiapine
An atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Risperidone
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Atypical antipsychotic” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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