Understanding and managing cardiac side-effects of second-generation antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia

SUMMARY Second-generation antipsychotic medications (SGAs) have advanced the treatment of schizophrenia over the past 30 years. However, a number of potentially life-threatening cardiac side-effects associated with these treatments concern and can discourage prescribers from administering these evidence-based treatments. This review provides a practical, psychiatrist-oriented understanding of the relative frequencies, mechanisms, investigations and treatments associated with these cardiac toxicities. We aim to highlight that these are relatively rare complications of an effective class of drug and to promote the advantages of early involvement of cardiologists in the psychiatric multidisciplinary team to guide the investigation and management of these conditions. LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this article you will be able to: • understand the relative incidence of cardiotoxic side-effects of the various SGAs• perform preliminary investigations to diagnose the common cardiotoxic side-effects of SGAs• understand the treatments for these cardiac side-effects and the role of cardiologists involved the care of these patients.