Comparing Safety and Tolerability of Antipsychotic Treatment

Certain modifiable risk factors for diabetes andcardiovascular disease need to be considered when prescribing antipsychoticmedications. Antipsychotics may change a patient’s weight, glucose,cholesterol, and triglycerides. These changes may lead to changes incardiopulmonary health. If switching medications is not a viable option, themetabolic and cardiopulmonary risks may be minimized by monitoring certainbehaviors such as smoking, exercise, diet, and medication adherence. Theprincipals of primary prevention suggest the importance of lowering risk fordisease by using monitoring and intervention approaches.