| In the elderly, antipsychotic medications can cause serious side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms and tardive dyskinesia. |
| The primary symptoms observed are severe extrapyramidal reactions, hypotension and sedation. |
| Secondly, it may be that the lower incidence of extrapyramidal side effects translates into a lower long term risk of tardive dyskinesia. |
| In general, no differences have been found regarding the incidence of acute extrapyramidal side effects or tardive dyskinesia. |
| Antipsychotic drugs with higher potency have a greater affinity for dopamine receptors and tend to cause more extrapyramidal symptoms. |
| The term extrapyramidal system refers to the basal ganglia and several brain stem nuclei with which they are connected. |
