Strengths:
- Effective in the treatment of manic and mixed states, either as monotherapy or add-on therapy to a mood stabilizer.
- Rapid onset of antimanic effect which is independent of antipsychotic effects.
- Broad spectrum – it controls mania in a variety of populations (psychotic/non-psychotic, and manic/mixed) and also reduces associated depressive symptoms.
- Does not cause weight gain or QTc prolongation.
- Superior to haloperidol in terms of rates of EPS.
Weaknesses:
- Never studied in patients with bipolar depression.
- Assoiciated with higher rates of EPS compared with other atypical antipsychotics.