Effects of antipsychotic drugs on oxidative stress

Schizophrenia is a severe chronic debilitating psychiatric disease that affects almost 1% of the world’s population. Etiology of schizophrenia is still not completely understood. There has been an increasing number of studies which indicate that reactive oxygen species may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, genetic factors aside. Tardive dyskinesia and extrapyramidal side effects are frequently observed side effects of treatment with especially older generation (typical) antipsychotic drugs. It is suggested that oxidative stress may responsible for etiology of tardive dyskinesia that may develop after antipsychotic treatment. The treatment of schizophrenia is multifactorial, with antipsychotic medications comprising a major part of treatment. Oxidative stress is a common term, which generally used to describe the unbalanced situation between oxidants and antioxidants, in favor of oxidants. Under physiological conditions, reactive oxygen species can be produced. If the excess amount of reactive oxygen species cannot be detoxified by antioxidant defense mechanism, cellular damage would be occurs (lipid peroxidation, DNA damage etc.). The controversial data was also reported in the literature on oxidative stress markers in schizophrenia patients. Abnormalities in the antioxidant defense system and a major decrease in antioxidant levels were determined in schizophrenic patients. Several studies have shown differences for the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Antipsychotic drugs are widely used in treating schizophrenia. Since the relationship between schizophrenia and oxidative stress showed, many studies have been performed about the possible protective effects of antipsychotic drugs on oxidant/antioxidant system and lipid peroxidation. The effects of antipsychotic drugs on oxidant, antioxidants and lipid peroxidation have become a subject of curiosity. It has also been suggested that some older generation antipsychotics may have shown pro-oxidant effects by increasing the cellular damage, especially in brain. Some antipsychotic drugs were reported to have neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress at the cellular level. This panel aims to provide information about the effects of antipsychotic drugs on oxidative stress.