ABSTRACT
The effect of antipsychotic drugs, typical and atypical neuroleptics, is described in the following sections of this paper: antipsychotic drugs and carbohydrate metabolism, prevention and risk factors, pharmacoepidemiology, treatment. It is concluded that neuroleptic treatment increases the risk of metabolic impairment. Mechanisms of this effect are not clear so far. Ethnicity, sex, age and features of the therapy may play a role. Clozapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone, sertindole and some typical neuroleptics are risk factors as well. Common glucose-reducing drugs as well as prevention of metabolic impairment and special behavioral training,including the control over the level of glycemia, are used in treatment of diabetes mellitus induced by neuroleptics.
