# Exploring Adjunctive Novel Therapeutic Approach of KarXT (Xanomeline‐Trospium Chloride) for Managing Psychotic Symptoms in Patients With Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's Disease

## TL;DR

This paper reviews KarXT as a new treatment for psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia and Alzheimer's, showing it reduces symptoms with fewer side effects than traditional drugs.

## Contribution

The paper provides a novel review of KarXT's efficacy and safety in treating psychosis in schizophrenia and Alzheimer's patients.

## Key findings

- KarXT reduced positive and negative symptoms by 8.4 points on the PANSS scale.
- Side effects were minimal and did not lead to treatment discontinuation.
- KarXT's dual action on M1 and M4 receptors and mAChR antagonism improves symptom management.

## Abstract

Acute psychotic symptoms like delusions and hallucinations are of major concern while treating patients with schizophrenia and alzheimer's psychosis, primarily impacting their daily life functioning and quality of life. The traditional antipsychotic medications, commonly prescribed to manage these symptoms, cause significant side effects with limited efficacy, requiring novel therapeutic agents that can overcome this challenge. While there is no definitive cure, symptomatic treatment can help relieve some of the symptoms and improve the quality of life of people with alzheimer's disease (AD).

A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, scopus, google scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted to identify studies on xanomeline–trospium chloride (KarXT) in schizophrenia and AD psychosis. After screening 802 unique records, 39 studies—including preclinical, clinical, and observational investigations—were included in this narrative review. Only English‐language publications up to February 2025 were considered.

KarXT, with its dual action on the M1 and M4 receptors and mAChR antagonism, greatly helps reduce the severity of the positive and negative symptoms, as it resulted in an 8.4‐point greater reduction on the PANSS scale. Side effects were minimal and did not account for the discontinuation of treatment.

Psychosis is a common feature of schizophrenia and AD, most often caused by high concentrations of dopamine in the brain, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, resulting in markedly reduced quality of life for the patient and associated caregiver. Conventional treatments targeting dopamine receptors produce extrapyramidal symptoms and metabolic side effects, leading to noncompliance with medication. KarXT, with its dual action on M1 and M4 receptors and mAChR antagonism, greatly helps reduce the severity of the positive and negative symptoms. The side effects experienced were minimal and did not account for the discontinuation of treatment.An overview of the mechanism of action, clinical trials, and classical findings of KarXT for the management of psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and alzheimer's disease.

An overview of the mechanism of action, clinical trials, and classical findings of KarXT for the management of psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and alzheimer's disease.