ABSTRACT
Prevention is the best measure to avoid adverse medication events. Prescription of effective medications with minimal likelihood of eliciting adverse events takes precedence over other drugs with increased risks. Systematic monitoring will insure medication effectiveness and prompt detection of and response to emerging side effects. Cardiovascular complications must be kept in mind and avoided at all times. Laryngeal spasm demands immediate emergency treatment. Extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) and galactorrhea demand prompt intervention. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a true medical emergency that necessitates intensive and specialized medical care. Weight gain and its related complications (diabetes mellitus, dyslipedemia, and metabolic syndrome) require close monitoring, and a deliberate and coordinated multidisciplinary medical treatment program. Tardive dyskinesia development needs to be anticipated with the use of antipsychotics. Th e beginning of this complication at its very earliest stages needs timely detection and intervention. For issues related to clozapine side effects see chapter 12 (p. 331).
