Aripiprazole (Abilify - Bristol-Myers Squibb/Otsuka), a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic drug, was approved by the FDA in 2002 for treatment of schizophrenia and more recently for bipolar disorder as well. It has been promoted as causing fewer adverse effects than other antipsychotics, without sacrificing efficacy.

Paliperidone (Invega - Janssen) has been approved by the FDA in an extended-release formulation for treatment of schizophrenia. It is the primary active metabolite of the second-generation antipsychotic risperidone (Risperdal - Janssen), which is scheduled to lose its patent exclusivity in December 2007.

Ropinirole (Requip - GlaxoSmithKline), a dopamine agonist already available for treatment of Parkinson's disease, is now the first drug approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to severe restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Many commonly used drugs can interfere with sexual function in both men and women, causing loss of libido, interfering with erection or ejaculation in men, and delaying or preventing orgasm in women. Drug-related effects on sexual function may be difficult to distinguish from the effects of depression or disease, but most are reversible when drug use is stopped and sometimes when dosage is decreased. Since many patients are reluctant to talk about sexual difficulties, physicians may wish to ask about the possibility of drug-induced sexual dysfunction, particularly when they have...

The FDA has approved deutetrabenazine (Austedo – Teva), a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor, for treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease and, more recently, for treatment of tardive dyskinesia in adults. It is the second VMAT2 inhibitor to be approved for each of these indications; tetrabenazine (Xenazine, and generics) was approved earlier for Huntington's chorea and valbenazine (Ingrezza) was recently approved for treatment of adults with tardive dyskinesia.