Overdose of antipsychotic drugs: Practical management guidelines

Abstract

Antipsychotics include the 'typical' agents (phenothiazines, thioxanthines and butyrophenones) as well as the more recently introduced agents referred to as 'atypical' (dibenzodiazepines, diphenylbutylpiperidines and benzamides). There are significant differences between these drugs in their toxicity in overdose. For example, thioridazine has been observed to be more cardiotoxic in overdose than other antipsychotic drugs, whereas clozapine and loxapine are the most likely to cause seizures. Many antipsychotic overdoses will result in mild sedation and no other ill effect. Most patients can be safely discharged 6 hours after the poisoning, but it is critical to recognise the more seriously po..