FDA approval for Cobenfy casts light on schizophrenia’s wickedness

Context: On
September 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a drug
called Cobenfy to treat schizophrenia. Cobenfy is a combination of xanomeline
and trospium chloride that has a novel mechanism of action that steers clear of
older drugs’ side effects, too. It has side effects of its own, of course. Cobenfy
is the first antipsychotic drug to treat schizophrenia by targeting cholinergic
receptors instead of dopamine receptors. Cobenfy is a combination of xanomeline
and trospium chloride that has a novel mechanism of action that steers clear of
older drugs’ side effects, too. It has side effects of its own.

Key
points

·       Overview: Schizophrenia
is one of the most serious of all psychiatric disorders. It has life-changing
consequences, including social isolation, stigma, and diminished prospects of
finding a partner.

·       Schizophrenia: It is a
chronic, severe mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, acts,
expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. It mostly affects
young adults in the productive age group.

·       Symptoms of Schizophrenia: It can
differ from person to person, but they generally fall into three main
categories: psychotic, negative, and cognitive.

Psychotic symptoms include Hallucinations,
Delusions, thought disorder, Movement disorder.

Negative symptoms include loss of
motivation, loss of interest or enjoyment in daily activities, withdrawal from
social life, difficulty showing emotions, and difficulty functioning normally.

Cognitive symptoms include problems in
attention, concentration, and memory.

·       Treatment: Though
there is no cure for schizophrenia, a variety of antipsychotic medications are
effective in reducing the psychotic symptoms present in the acute phase of the
illness. Psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy or
supportive psychotherapy may reduce symptoms and enhance function.

·       Working of antipsychotic Drugs: Antipsychotic
drugs can reduce the symptoms of the disease as well as prevent future
problems. These drugs block dopamine receptors extensively throughout the brain
and potentially reduce symptoms of schizophrenia.

Side effects: Greater tendency to negatively
affect weight gain and other movement skills such as physical coordination,
balance and walking. Increased risk of mortality in elderly patients.

·       About KarXT/ Cobenfy: It targets
dopamine levels in the brain by controlling acetylcholine levels. Acetylcholine
is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in memory, learning, attention, arousal
and involuntary muscle movement.

Benefits: It does not include common side
effects found in other drugs such as weight gain and movement disorders. Also,
it does not include any warning about increased risk of mortality in some
elderly patients unlike other drugs commonly used for schizophrenia.