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Dysphagia

What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia refers to swallowing impairment, and can lead to severe outcomes including malnutrition, asphyxiation (suffocating), which can be fatal. It is sometimes reported in people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, and may be a side effect of a number of neuroleptic medications including antipsychotics, but may also be due to behavioural disturbance or other neurological disorders.

What is the evidence for dysphagia?

Low quality evidence is unclear as to risk of dysphagia following any specific neuroleptic medication.

October 2020

Last updated at: 3:59 am, 15th October 2020
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Fact Sheet Technical Commentary

NeuRA Libraries

Title Colour Legend:
Green - Topic summary is available.
Orange - Topic summary is being compiled.
Red - Topic summary has no current systematic review available.