Antipsychotic Medications

Several medications are useful for the treatment of psychosis and other related conditions. These medications are also used for treatment of mood, anxiety, eating and disruptive behaviour disorders. Sometimes these medications are called neuroleptics, first-generation or typical antipsychotics and second-generation or atypical antipsychotics.

Below you will find information sheets on each of these medications, as well as some resource guides and an antipsychotic monitoring form for families. Use the antipsychotic monitoring form to help you and your doctor monitor how well this medication is working is working for your child, and also to measure any side effects your child may be experiencing.

BC Children's Hospital

Aripiprazole (Abilify®)

Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication and is also used for treatment of irritability of autism.

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Clozapine (Clozaril®/Apo-clozapine®/Gen-clozapine®)

Clozapine is an antipsychotic medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCD).

BC Children's Hospital

Lurasidone (Latuda®)

Lurasidone is developed to treat psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia and can also help treat depression associated with bipolar disorder.

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Olanzapine (Zyprexa®, Zyprexa® Zydis)

Olanzapine is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and symptoms associated with mood and anxiety disorders.

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Paliperidone SR (Invega®)

Paliperidone is used for treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, management of acute mania in bipolar disorder, and irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder.

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Quetiapine (Seroquel®, Seroquel XR®)

Quetiapine is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia, autism symptoms, depression, anxiety disorders and other conditions.

BC Children's Hospital

Risperidone (Risperdal®)

Risperidone is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication and is also used for treatment of irritability of autism and tic disorders.

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Traditional Antipsychotics

Traditional Antipsychotics are antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medications used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, tic disorders, autism symptoms and behavioural disorders.

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Ziprasidone (Zeldox®)

Ziprasidone is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia, autism symptoms, bipolar disorder and tourette syndrome.

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Antipsychotic Monitoring Form

A form used to monitor response and side effects with antipsychotic medications.

BC Children's Hospital

Metabolic Resources for Families

Metabolic resources including a Patient and Family Guide to Second Generation Antipsychotics and Second-Generation Antipsychotic (SGA) handouts to support families with metabolic complications, diet and activity.

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