Antipsychotic Adverse Effects Comparison

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Activity Dates: 05/10/2021 - 04/19/2024

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Target Audience

This course is designed for pharmacists, nurse practitioners or other health care professionals involved in the comprehensive medication management of psychiatric and/or neurological patients.

Session Summary

Antipsychotics have been the first-line treatment for schizophrenia for over 60 years and more recently have become the primary or adjunctive treatment for selected mood disorders. There have been 24 medications with antipsychotic activity approved by the FDA since 1956. Since 2009, an additional eight medications with antipsychotic activity have been marketed in the United States (iloperidone, asenapine, lurasidone, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, pimavanserin, lumateperone, and amisulpride). Six of these have FDA-approved labeling for the treatment of schizophrenia (iloperidone, asenapine, lurasidone, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, and lumateperone). With the exception of clozapine that was approved in 1989, there is insufficient evidence to distinguish between antipsychotics on the basis of efficacy in patients with schizophrenia, making selection of a specific agent difficult. However, there are important differences in adverse effect profiles, in part due to pharmacology, metabolism, and dosage forms. Clinician familiarity with the unique attributes of antipsychotics may improve the chance of successfully selecting a treatment plan when reviewing the patient’s clinical profile. Impediments to continued medication adherence may be avoided when the antipsychotic regimen provides a greater likelihood to be effective with fewer and more well tolerated adverse effects. It is critical that pharmacists understand the differences between antipsychotics to help provide optimal patient-centered care based on comorbidities, clinical history, and vulnerability for specific adverse effects.

Course Requirements

You will proceed through the following steps to satisfactorily complete this course:

  • Sign in (or create a FREE account).
  • Register for this course.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the post-test at the end of the activity no later than the closing activity date.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • If necessary, complete the post-test retest no later than the closing activity date.
  • Receive a passing grade (70%).
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Upon successful completion, ACPE credit is reported within 24 hours to CPE Monitor although transcripts can be retrieved by participants online in their ACPE Transcript.

Faculty Information and Disclosures

Stephen R. Saklad, PharmD, BCPP

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Learning Objectives

  1. Analyze the relationship between receptor binding affinities and the adverse effect profiles of antipsychotics.
  2. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of antipsychotics based on their adverse effect profiles.
  3. Select the most appropriate antipsychotic for a patient based on adverse effect potential and past medical history.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Dates: 05/10/2021 - 04/19/2024
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-21-003-H01-P (Application)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for certification renewal.

ACPEThe College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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