Glossary

A molecule that activates a receptor, producing a biological response.

A feeling of inner restlessness with a need to move (a type of movement side effect).

A blood test measuring infection‑fighting white blood cells.

A molecule that blocks a receptor and prevents activation by other substances.

A number that uses height and weight to estimate body fat.

The FDA’s strongest safety warning found at the top of a drug’s label.

Also called: black box warning

A family of liver enzymes that process many medicines (for example, CYP3A4, CYP2D6).

Also called: CYP enzymes

When one medicine changes how another medicine works or is processed.

Also called: drug interaction

A permanent identifier for a digital article (e.g., 10.xxxx).

A test that records the heart’s electrical activity.

Also called: EKG

Movement side effects like stiffness, tremor, or restlessness (akathisia).

Also called: movement side effects

Also called typical antipsychotics; older agents such as haloperidol and fluphenazine.

Also called: typical antipsychotic, first generation antipsychotic

How long it takes for half of a medicine to leave the body.

Also called: t1/2

Reduced liver function; doses may need to be adjusted.

Also called: liver impairment

A genetic marker; if present in some people of Asian ancestry, certain medicines can raise risk of severe rash.

Also called: HLA-B1502, HLA-B*1502

Studies done outside a living organism (e.g., test tube or cell culture).

Studies done in a living organism (e.g., in people or animals).

The conditions a medicine is approved to treat.

Also called: uses

A shot given every few weeks/months that slowly releases medicine.

Also called: depot, injectable

A study that combines results from many studies to get a clearer answer.

Also called: systematic review with meta‑analysis

How the body breaks down a medicine (often by liver enzymes).

A substance formed when a medicine is broken down. Some metabolites are active (contribute to effects), others are inactive.

How a medicine works in the body.

Also called: mechanism

Tests or check‑ins to help use a medicine safely (for example, labs).

Also called: follow‑up

Symptoms like reduced motivation, blunted affect, and social withdrawal.

A research paper that is free for anyone to read online without a paywall.

Also called: OA

Taking pills for a short time after starting an injection so medicine is covered while the shot starts working.

Also called: overlap

A transport protein that pumps many drugs out of cells; can affect how medicines are absorbed and eliminated.

Also called: P-gp, P glycoprotein

A rare reaction after some injections (like olanzapine LAI) that needs monitoring after the shot.

An ID for free, full‑text articles in PubMed Central.

A unique number used to find a study in PubMed.

Symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking often seen in schizophrenia.

A hormone; some medicines can raise it and cause symptoms like breast changes.

A part of the ECG tracing representing ventricular depolarization; excessive widening may signal conduction issues.

A heart rhythm measure on an ECG. Some medicines can prolong the QT interval.

Also called: QT interval

A study where people are randomly assigned to treatments to compare results.

An FDA safety program for certain medicines.

Reduced kidney function; doses may need to be adjusted.

Also called: kidney impairment

How much medicine is in the blood.

Also called: blood level

Also called atypical antipsychotics; generally lower EPS risk than FGAs and include agents like aripiprazole, quetiapine, risperidone, and olanzapine.

Also called: atypical antipsychotic, second generation antipsychotic

Conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder that substantially interfere with functioning and are the focus of this resource.

Also called: serious mental illness

The point at which a drug’s intake and elimination balance so blood levels stay consistent between doses.

Also called: steady‑state

Involuntary movements (like face/tongue) that can appear after long‑term use of some medicines.

Also called: TD

Checking medicine levels in blood to guide safe and effective dosing.

Also called: therapeutic drug monitoring

The blood level range where a medicine is most likely to work without undue side effects.

Also called: therapeutic drug level

A blood level taken right before the next dose (lowest point).

Also called: pre‑dose level