Second-generation Antipsychotics

Second-generation antipsychotics, also known as atypical antipsychotics, are a class of medications used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses. They are thought to act by modulating dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission in the brain. These agents have become the primary treatment for psychotic disorders and offer better efficacy, improved side effect profiles, and fewer movement-related unwanted effects compared to first-generation antipsychotics. Second-generation antipsychotics affect a broad range of receptors and pathways, providing relief from psychosis and a decrease in associated symptomology. These medications have also been studied for use in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders like dementia, sleep disorders, and depression.