Atypical Antipsychotic Adjustments and Side-Effects over Time in Adults with Intellectual Disability,Tardive Dyskinesia,and Akathisia

Atypical antipsychotic use is prevalent in ID, and can result in serious side effects, particularly long-term. The purpose of this paper was to examine side effects over time and adjustments in atypicals in ID, tardive dyskinesia (TD), and akathisia. Side effects of 84 ID adults were assessed across four administrations of the Matson Evaluation of Drug Side-Effects (MEDS). Persons with TD or akathisia who experienced changes in atypicals were more likely to evince side effects. These trends were evident across total MEDS scores and subscales for cardiovascular and hematology, CNS for parkinsonism/dyskinesia and behavioral/akathisia. Atypical antipsychotic use poses a risk for side effects in individuals with ID, particularly in relation to medication adjustments over time and the presence of neuroleptic-induced movement disorders.