When prescribed appropriately, most psychotropic medications are fairly safe. Although some side effects are common and even expected, occasional serious-and even life-threatening-adverse effects may arise that require immediate intervention. The Pocket Guide to Emergent and Serious Adverse Events in Psychopharmacology focuses on the latter. With chapters written by a combination of experts and novices in the field, this guide provides a summary of the extant knowledge of effects that include:

• Acute dystonia• Cardiac emergencies• Discontinuation and withdrawal• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome• Overdose

Designed to be easily referenced, chapters are arranged alphabetically and feature sections on recognition and detection, culprit medications, assessment, management, and follow-up treatment. Concise in format and broad in scope, this reference is particularly useful for psychopharmacology beginners but serves to reinforce for all readers the importance of frequent communication with patients and their families.

Introduction: The Art of Prescribing and "Surviving" Emergent Serious Side Effects in PsychopharmacologyChapter 1. Acute dystoniaChapter 2. AgitationChapter 3. Agranulocytosis with clozapine and other psychotropic medications Chapter 4. Benzodiazepines and opioids divided and togetherChapter 5. Cardiac emergencies such as arrhythmias, QTc prolongation, and cardiomyopathyChapter 6. Discontinuation of psychotropic medicationsChapter 7. Hepatotoxicity of psychotropic medicationsChapter 8. Hypertensive crisis and dietary or drug violation with monoamine oxidase inhibitorsChapter 9. Hyponatremia, especially in older adults Chapter 10. Neuroleptic malignant syndromeChapter 11. Ocular side effects of psychotropic medicationsChapter 12. Overdoses of psychotropic medications: antidepressants, lithium, and antipsychoticsChapter 13. Polypharmacy and acute side effectsChapter 14. Pregnancy: to stop or not to stopChapter 15. Psychopharmacological seizure risk managementChapter 16. Serotonin syndromeChapter 17. Substances with addictive potential and psychotropic medications Chapter 18. Tardive dyskinesia

Richard Balon, M.D., is Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences and Anesthesiology and Associate Chair for Education and Faculty Affairs, and Program Director in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan.

Mary K. Morreale, M.D., is Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan, and affiliated with Karmanos Cancer Center.