Standard antipsychotic agents, such as haloperidol and chlorpromazine, continue to be the mainstay of pharmacologic treatment for schizophrenia. However, standard antipsychotics, although effective for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, have little or no effect on the negative symptoms of this disease. Standard antipsychotics also are associated with the development of potentially disabling side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms and tardive dyskinesia. Newer agents, such as clozapine and risperidone, are effective for both positive and negative symptoms. They also are less likely to cause extrapyramidal symptoms.
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