Pharmacology for Dentistry

Psychotropic Agents 97

Extrapyramidal reactions include par-
kinsonism, acute muscular dystonias,
akathisia, tardive dyskinesia and malignant
neuroleptic syndrome. They can also cause
hypersensitivity reaction including
cholestatic jaundice, skin rash, urticaria,
photosensitivity and contact dermatitis.
There is also blue pigmentation of skin, len-
ticular opacities on prolonged use of drug.

Therapeutic Uses

1. Treatment of psychosis (schizophre-
   nia): Schizophrenia is a split mind or
   splitting of perception from reality.
   The patient of schizophrenia is dis-
   sociated from the world around him
   and lives in their own world which
   is characterized by aggression, anxi-
   ety, restlessness, hallucinations and
   delusions. Phenothiazines reduce the
   hallucinations, aggression, anxiety
   and make them acceptable and coop-
   erative.


2. In the treatment of manic depressive
   psychosis (treatment of mania).


3. In alcoholic hallucinosis and
   Huntington’s disease.


4. As an antiemetic in drug and disease
   induced vomiting. Also useful in morn-
   ing sickness but are ineffective in mo-
   tion sickness.


5. In the treatment of intractable hic-
   cough.


6. In the treatment of behavioural disor-
   ders in children.


7. As preanaesthetic medication.


8. To produce hypothermia.

TRIFLUOPERAZINE

It is a phenothiazine derivative and

is used in hallucination, delusions, agi-

tation, withdrawal and other schizo-

phrenic symptoms in schizophrenia,

schizoaffective disorders, mania, hypo-

mania and panic anxiety.

BUTYROPHENONES

HALOPERIDOL

It is a potent antipsychotic drug. It does

not cause weight gain. Its pharmacological

effects are similar to phenothiazines.

Adverse effects include dystonia, hal-

lucinations, restlessness, nausea, epigas-

tric discomfort, anaemia, blurred vision,

hypersensitivity reaction, blood dyscra-

sia, jaundice, galactorrhoea, gynecomas-

tia and amenorrhoea.

It is indicated in acute and chronic

schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, acute ma-

nia, hypomania and behavioural disorders

in children; antiemetic neuroleptanalgesia,

Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome and

Huntington’s disease.

DROPERIDOL

It is a short acting neuroleptic agent used

in anaesthesia.

TRIFLUPERIDOL

It exerts sedative and tranquillizing ef-

fect and it is postulated that it blocks dopam-

ine receptors within CNS. It is used in acute

and chronic psychoses, anxiety disorders,

mania and schizophrenia.

Side effects include nausea, epigastric

distress, dry mouth, blurred vision, jaun-

dice, skin rash and photosensitivity.