Risperidone and low ‐potency antipsychotics

Patients with schizophrenia often experience anxiety, agitation, and sleep disturbances, and concurrent use of a benzodiazepine is a common practice in their pharmacological management. However, this polypharmacy practice is associated with the risk of dependence, withdrawal, and symptom recurrence upon stopping the benzodiazepine. Adding a low‐potency antipsychotic, such as pipamperone, has been proposed as an alternate strategy to avoid these risks, as well as having the potential for amplified dopaminergic and noradrenergic blockade and sedative effect.
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Drug ‐Drug Interactions Source Type: research