Extrapyramidal Side Effects

Definition:
Extrapyramidal Side Effects are a group of symptoms that can occur in persons taking antipsychotic medications. They are more commonly caused by the so-called typical antipsychotics but can and do occur with all of them.

Extrapyramidal side effects include:

• Tremor
• Akathisia
• Slurred speech
• Dystonia
• Bradyphrenia
• Bradykinesia
• Muscular rigidity

Treatment of these symptoms depends upon the medication that induced them.

Pronunciation: EX-truh-PEER-a-MID-uhl