2nd Generation Antipsychotic Resource Library
Patient education handouts for atypical antipsychotic medications — from Renee Reece, ARNP, PMHNP-BC
Aripiprazole (Abilify)
A dopamine stabilizer — unique among antipsychotics for partially activating rather than fully blocking dopamine. Weight-neutral with lower sedation than most.
Quetiapine (Seroquel)
Versatile antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression augmentation, and at low doses for insomnia and anxiety.
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
One of the most effective antipsychotics available. Used for schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and combined with fluoxetine for treatment-resistant depression.
Risperidone (Risperdal)
Widely used antipsychotic available in oral and long-acting injectable forms. FDA-approved for schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and autism-related irritability.
Lurasidone (Latuda)
One of the most weight-neutral antipsychotics available. FDA-approved for schizophrenia and bipolar depression. Must be taken with food.
Ziprasidone (Geodon)
Weight-neutral antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar mania. Requires cardiac monitoring due to QT prolongation risk. Must be taken with food.
Asenapine (Saphris)
A sublingual (under-the-tongue) antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar mania. Unique administration route bypasses the digestive system.
Brexpiprazole (Rexulti)
Related to Abilify — a dopamine stabilizer used for schizophrenia, depression augmentation, and agitation in Alzheimer's dementia.
Cariprazine (Vraylar)
Uniquely targets D3 receptors, making it especially effective for negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Also approved for bipolar mania, depression, and MDD augmentation.
Clozapine (Clozaril)
The gold standard for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and the only antipsychotic proven to reduce suicidality. Requires mandatory regular blood monitoring.
Iloperidone (Fanapt)
An antipsychotic requiring slow titration to minimize dizziness and blood pressure changes. Lower movement side effects than many older antipsychotics.
Lumateperone (Caplyta)
A newer antipsychotic with excellent tolerability — minimal weight gain, movement side effects, and metabolic impact. Fixed once-daily dose of 42 mg.
Olanzapine / Samidorphan (Lybalvi)
Olanzapine combined with samidorphan to reduce weight gain. Same proven efficacy as olanzapine with meaningfully less weight gain. Cannot be used with opioids.
Xanomeline / Trospium (Cobenfy)
First-in-class antipsychotic that works WITHOUT blocking dopamine — uses a completely novel muscarinic mechanism. No tardive dyskinesia or movement side effects.