Long-acting depot injections are used for maintenance therapy especially when compliance with oral treatment is unreliable. However, depot injections of conventional antipsychotics may give rise to […]

The 'atypical antipsychotics' may be better tolerated than other antipsychotics; extrapyramidal symptoms may be less frequent than with older antipsychotics. the atypical antipsychotics should be considered when choosing first-line treatment of newly diagnosed schizophrenia. an atypical antipsychotic is considered the treatment option of choice for managing an acute schizophrenic episode when discussion with the individual is not possible. an atypical antipsychotic should be considered for an individual who is suffering unacceptable side-effects from a conventional antipsychotic. an atypical antipsychotic should be considered for an individual in relapse whose symptoms were previously inadequately controlled. changing to an atypical antipsychotic is not necessary if a conventional antipsychotic controls symptoms adequately and the individual does not suffer unacceptable side-effects.

When prescribing an antipsychotic for administration on an emergency basis, the intramuscular dose should be lower than the corresponding oral dose (owing to absence of first-pass effect), particularly if the patient is very active (increased blood flow to muscle considerably increases the rate of absorption). The prescription should specify the dose for each route and should not imply that the same dose can be given by mouth or by intramuscular injection. The dose of antipsychotic for emergency use should be reviewed at least daily.

Most anxiolytics (sedatives) will induce sleep when given at night and most hypnotics will sedate when given during the day. Prescribing of these drugs is widespread but dependence (both physical and psychological) and tolerance occurs. This may lead to difficulty in withdrawing the drug after the patient has been taking it regularly for more than a few weeks. Hypnotics and anxiolytics should, therefore, be reserved for short courses to alleviate acute conditions after causal factors have been established. Benzodiazepines are the most commonly used anxiolytics and hypnotics; they act at benzodiazepine receptors which are associated with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Older drugs such as meprobamate and barbiturates are not recommended—they have more side-effects and interactions than benzodiazepines and are much more dangerous in overdosage.

Nasal decongestants for administration by mouth may not be as effective as preparations for local application but they do not give rise to rebound nasal congestion on withdrawal. Pseudoephedrine is available over the counter; it has few sympathomimetic effects. Systemic decongestants should be used with caution in diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, susceptibility to angle-closure glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, renal impairment, pregnancy, and ischaemic heart disease, and should be avoided in patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Expectorant and demulcent cough preparations Expectorants are claimed to promote expulsion of bronchial secretions but there is no evidence that any drug can specifically facilitate expectoration. […]

Pulmonary surfactants are used in the management of respiratory distress syndrome (hyaline membrane disease) in neonates and preterm neonates. They may also be given prophylactically to those considered at risk of developing the syndrome. Continuous monitoring is required to avoid hyperoxaemia caused by rapid improvement in arterial oxygen concentration. Pulmonary haemorrhage has been rarely associated with therapy especially in more preterm neonates; obstruction of the endotracheal tube by mucous secretions has also been reported.

Mucolytics are prescribed to facilitate expectoration by reducing sputum viscosity. In some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a chronic productive cough, mucolytics can reduce exacerbations; mucolytic therapy should be stopped if there is no benefit after a 4-week trial. Steam inhalation with postural drainage is effective in bronchiectasis and in some cases of chronic bronchitis. Mucolytics should be used with caution in those with a history of peptic ulceration because they may disrupt the gastric mucosal barrier.