Drugs called second generation antipsychotics block

Abilify is part of a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics, or second generation antipsychotics. Source: Food and Drug Administration. Otsuka

Abilify is part of a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics, or second generation antipsychotics. Source: Food and Drug Administration. Otsuka

Second-generation antipsychotics: These block certain dopamine and serotonin receptors. But unlike first-generation antipsychotics, these

Abilify is part of a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics, or second generation antipsychotics. Source: Food and Drug Administration. Otsuka

Atypical antipsychotics are commonly referred to as second-generation antipsychotics, while typical psychotics are called first-generation antipsychotics.

Abilify is part of a group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics, or second generation antipsychotics. Source: Food and Drug Administration. Otsuka

The two main types of antipsychotics are typical antipsychotics (also called first-generation or conventional) and atypical antipsychotics (also called second-generation). Antipsychotics work by blocking receptors in the brain that receive dopamine, a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) that transmits information between neurons (brain cells).

Most antipsychotic drugs are known to block some of the dopamine receptors in the brain. But second generation antipsychotics may be more likely to

Antipsychotics are commonly used to treat patients with schizophrenia, but some newer drugs – the so-called second-generation antipsychotics