Atypical antipsychotic drugs are so called to differentiate between these newer antipsychotics and other conventional antipsychotics (such as (Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) and haloperidol).
Atypical antipsychotic medications have a number of distinct differences and have been marketed as drugs that have fewer major neurological side effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms and very low rates of tardive dyskinesia.
Atypical antipsychotics overall improve efficacy in the treatment of psychosis, especially symptoms such as emotional and social withdrawal, impoverished speech and blunted mood.
Atypical antipsychotics are approved for the treatment of schizophrenia but are also used in the treatment of agitation and psychosis in dementia and for bipolar disorder.
