Antipsychotic Drug Warnings:

There have been 113 drug regulatory agency warnings from nine countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States) and the European Union warning that antipsychotics cause harmful side effects. These include the following (note that some warnings cite more than one side effect, so the list below may not be equal to the total number of warnings):

• 40 warnings on antipsychotics causing cardiovascular disorders
• 25 warnings on antipsychotics causing death or increased risk of death
• 22 warnings on antipsychotics causing heart problems
• 11 warnings on antipsychotics causing allergic reactions
• 11 warnings on antipsychotics causing gastrointestinal problems
• 10 warnings on antipsychotics causing blood disorders
• 10 warnings on antipsychotics causing skin conditions
• 10 warnings on antipsychotics causing stroke
• 9 warnings on antipsychotics causing metabolic disorders
• 9 warnings on antipsychotics causing nervous system disorders
• 9 warnings on antipsychotics causing newborn complications (including infant withdrawal symptoms)
• 9 warnings on antipsychotics causing weight gain
• 8 warnings on antipsychotics causing involuntary movements
• 6 warnings on antipsychotics causing blood pressure changes or high or low blood pressure
• 6 warnings on antipsychotics causing muscle problems
• 6 warnings on antipsychotics causing swelling
• 5 warnings on antipsychotics causing diabetes
• 5 warnings on antipsychotics causing liver problems
• 5 warnings on antipsychotics causing sleep problems
• 4 warnings on antipsychotics causing abnormal behavior
• 4 warnings on antipsychotics causing seizures or convulsions
• 4 warnings on antipsychotics causing sexual dysfunction
• 3 warnings on antipsychotics causing reproductive system disorders
• 3 warnings on antipsychotics causing sedation
• 2 warnings on antipsychotics causing abnormal bleeding
• 2 warnings on antipsychotics causing hallucinations
• 2 warnings on antipsychotics causing Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (a life-threatening neurological disorder)
• 2 warnings on antipsychotics causing suicide risk or attempts
• 1 warning on antipsychotics causing dependence
• 1 warning on antipsychotics causing agitation
• 1 warning on antipsychotics causing birth defects
• 1 warning on antipsychotics causing cognitive impairment
• 1 warning on antipsychotics causing aggression
• 1 warning on antipsychotics causing mania
• 1 warning on antipsychotics causing pneumonia
• 1 warning on antipsychotics causing risk of fractures
• 1 warning on antipsychotics causing withdrawal reactions

Antipsychotic Drug Studies:

There are 212 studies from 35 countries (Denmark, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam) showing that antipsychotics cause harmful side effects. These include the following (note that some studies cite more than one side effect, so the list below may not be equal to the total number of studies):

• 45 studies on antipsychotics causing cardiovascular disorders
• 41 studies on antipsychotics causing death or increased risk of death
• 21 studies on antipsychotics causing heart problems
• 21 studies on antipsychotics causing nervous system disorders
• 20 studies on antipsychotics causing weight gain
• 17 studies on antipsychotics causing diabetes
• 17 studies on antipsychotics causing involuntary movements
• 15 studies on antipsychotics causing metabolic disorders
• 11 studies on antipsychotics causing stroke
• 8 studies on antipsychotics causing brain shrinkage or other structural brain changes
• 8 studies on antipsychotics causing risk of fractures
• 7 studies on antipsychotics causing newborn complications
• 6 studies on antipsychotics causing heart attacks
• 6 studies on antipsychotics causing pneumonia
• 5 studies on antipsychotics causing sexual dysfunction
• 4 studies on antipsychotics causing blood pressure changes or high or low blood pressure
• 4 studies on antipsychotics causing cognitive impairment
• 4 studies on antipsychotics causing gastrointestinal problems
• 4 studies on antipsychotics causing lack of efficacy
• 4 studies on antipsychotics causing lowered bone mass
• 4 studies on antipsychotics causing Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (a life-threatening neurological disorder)
• 3 studies on antipsychotics causing muscle problems
• 3 studies on antipsychotics causing Parkinson’s Disease
• 3 studies on antipsychotics causing pregnancy complications
• 3 studies on antipsychotics causing reproductive system disorders
• 3 studies on antipsychotics causing sedation
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing abnormal behavior
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing allergic reactions
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing blood disorders
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing coma
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing mania or psychosis
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing premature birth
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing skin conditions
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing sleep problems
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing suicide risk or completed suicide
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing swelling
• 2 studies on antipsychotics causing violence
• 1 study on antipsychotics causing abnormal bleeding
• 1 study on antipsychotics causing agitation
• 1 study on antipsychotics causing birth defects
• 1 study on antipsychotics causing homicidal ideation
• 1 study on antipsychotics causing aggression
• 1 study on antipsychotics causing Infant withdrawal symptoms

Top Reactions for All Ages: There have been 117,414 Adverse Drug Reactions in connection with antipsychotics that have been reported to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (MedWatch), between 2004 and 2012.

The FDA estimates that less than 1% of all serious events are ever reported to it, so the actual number of side effects occurring are most certainly higher.

• 11,187 cases of diabetes mellitus
• 7,266 cases of weight increased
• 5,434 cases of death
• 5,054 cases of insomnia
• 4,386 cases of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• 4,236 cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus
• 3,940 cases of somnolence
• 2,876 cases of tremors
• 2,862 cases of anxiety
• 2,735 cases of malaise (unease or discomfort)

Documented Side Effects of Antipsychotics:
Source: Physicians Desk Reference, National Institutes of Health’s Medline Plus, and/or the drug label.