Articles related to ANTI-PSYCHOTICS

Despite having anti-psychotic, anxiolytic, sedative, and hypnotic properties, quetiapine is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular death and sudden cardiac death when used in conventional doses. For the first time, the current investigation demonstrated that quetiapine taken off-label and in modest doses raises the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), stroke, and cardiovascular death.

The authors concluded that, after reviewing the 13-year-study, “switching to LAIs during the first 3 years of treatment improved antipsychotic adherence, decreased relapses, and reduced long-term mortality.” With few studies available comparing the long-term effectiveness between patients who switched to LAIs and those who remained on oral antipsychotics (OAPs), they hope the evidence presented supports the benefits of early LAI treatment in schizophrenia.