[Peculiarities of neuroleptic syndrome in women treated with typical and atypical neuroleptics].

Tolerability of haloperidol, clozapine and risperidone has been studied in 60 women with different psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia (83,2%) and neurotic disorders (16,7%). A spectrum of neurological, mental and somatic side-effects was different in the treatment with typical (haloperidol) and atypical (clozapine and risperidone) antipsychotics. The treatment with haloperidol more often results in movement disorders, sleepiness, inhibition, sexual dysfunction and cholinolytic effects. Sedative effects, reduced sexual drive, somatic-autonomic symptoms (hypersalivation, constipations, dry mouth, orthostatic symptoms, tachycardia), and metabolic endocrine effects (weight gain) were the most characteristic side-effects for clozapine. Risperidone caused less intensive extrapyramidal and somatic-autonomous symptoms but more expressed metabolic endocrine disturbances (weight gain, galactorrhea, menstrual cycle dysfunction). Comparing to clozapine, side effects of risperidone were represented by the less intensive somatic-autonomous symptoms but more intensive weight gain, menstrual dysfunction and galactorrhea. Based on the previous results of the study of men, the authors conclude that frequency and intensity of neuroleptic side-effects are sex-related that should be taken into account in the choice of antipsychotics.