Comparing safety and tolerability of antipsychotic treatment.

Certain modifiable risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease need to be considered when prescribing antipsychotic medications. Antipsychotics may change a patient's weight, glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides. These changes may lead to changes in cardiopulmonary health. If switching medications is not a viable option, the metabolic and cardiopulmonary risks may be minimized by monitoring certain behaviors such as smoking, exercise, diet, and medication adherence. The principals of primary prevention suggest the importance of lowering risk for disease by using monitoring and intervention approaches.