Adverse effects of antipsychotic drugs: new risks and how to identify them

Overview

There is a clinical need to monitor antipsychotic-treated patients for metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological and endocrine disturbances and to maintain collaboration with primary care physicians, diabetologists, and cardiologists to facilitate appropriate medical care for these patients. The monitoring of physical health of patients with schizophrenia increases safety and tolerability of antipsychotics treatment and decreasesmorbidity and mortality. Particularly general practitioners play an important part in monitoring of adverse events and treatment of physical comorbidities.

Key words:
schizophrenia, primary care physician, antipsychotics, side effects, long-term monitoring.