Question

Please explain the rationale for ordering a lipid panel, HGBA1C, liver function tests, and fasting blood sugars for patients who are taking antipsychotics

Answer 1

Antipsychotics are a group medications used in the management of psychosis . The are effective in tratment of delusions, hallucinations, paranoia or disordered thought.They are mainly of two types, atypical and atypical antibiotics.

It is necessary to monitor certain laboratory values while patients are treated with antipsychotic drugs because they can interfere with the bodies normal metabolism and alter it. Some anipsychotics can cause metabolic syndrome which cause weight gain, high blood glucose level, high triglyceride levels, low HDL level and liver damage. Thus periodic monitoring of these laboratory parameters are necessary. The antipsychotics have antagonist effect on M3 muscarinic receptors on pancreatic cells and dopamine D₂ receptors in brain which leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The metabolic disturbances and obesity contribute to dyslipidemia . Thus it is necessary to check the fasting blood sugar and HBA1c, and lipid profile. Drug induced liver injury is on eof the adverse effects of antipsychotic drugs because these drugs are metabolized in the liver. Thus Liver function test to me monitored.