Olanzapine attenuates brain damage after focal cerebral ischemia in vivo.

Atypical antipsychotic drugs are widely used in the treatment of schizophrenia. These agents are discovered to have some additional beneficial effects beyond their effectiveness as antipsychotic drugs. Among these initially unexpected effects are their potential effects as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder and their efficacy in improving long-term outcome in schizophrenia.

Risperidone attenuates brain damage after focal cerebral ischemia in vivo.

Since their introduction, atypical neuroleptic agents have been discovered to have some beneficial effects beyond their effectiveness as neuroleptic drugs. Among these initially unexpected effects are their potential effects as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder and their efficacy in improving long-term outcome in schizophrenia. These effects recently raised the question whether these drugs may also have some neuroprotective effect in the brain.