What are antipsychotic medicines?

Antipsychotic medicines are drugs that relieve symptoms such as:

• hallucinations (hearing and seeing things that are not there)
• delusions (false beliefs)
• mood swings
• paranoid thoughts (thinking that people are out to get you)
• agitation (getting overly excited, anxious, or angry for no reason).

Are there different kinds?

There are many different antipsychotic medicines, such as:

• aripiprazole (Abilify)
• chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
• clozapine (Clozaril)
• fluphenazine (Prolixin)
• haloperidol (Haldol)
• loxapine (Loxitane)
• molindone (Moban)
• olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• perphenazine (Trilafon)
• quetiapine (Seroquel)
• risperidone (Risperdal)
• thioridazine (Mellaril)
• thiothixene (Navane)
• trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• ziprasidone (Geodon).

How do they work?

The brain is made up of billions of neurons (cells) that communicate with each other. This affects other parts of the body. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances in the brain. The kinds and amounts of these substances control how neurons communicate. Too much or too little of these neurotransmitters may lead to psychosis. Using medicines to treat these imbalances may help return your life to normal.

Different antipsychotics work on your brain chemistry in different ways. Each affects specific neurotransmitters and each has different side effects. Your healthcare provider will work with you to carefully select the right medicine for you.

What are the risks and benefits?

Antipsychotic medicines do not cure mental illness, but they help control symptoms. This is similar to the way aspirin can reduce a fever without curing the infection that causes it. Antipsychotic drugs can reduce the paranoia and delusions and turn off the "voices" heard by some people with psychosis.

You may need to take antipsychotic medicine for a long time. There is no way to predict how soon your symptoms will improve. Some symptoms may go away in days, others take weeks or months. You many need to try several medicines before finding the one that works best for you.

Side effects from these medicines may include weight gain; muscle stiffness; seizures; trouble breathing; irregular heartbeat; sleepiness; changes in blood sugar or cholesterol; and increased movements of tongue, mouth, hands, and other muscles. Many side effects decrease after the first few weeks of treatment. The newer antipsychotic medicines have fewer side effects.

Talk with your healthcare provider before you stop taking an antipsychotic medicine. You may have a reaction if you stop taking the medicine too suddenly. If you take this medicine for a long time, your dosage must be reduced gradually before it is stopped completely.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Seek professional help if:

• Symptoms do not improve after a few weeks.
• The symptoms get worse.
• You have side effects that you think may be caused by the medicine.

If you have questions or problems related to your medicine, talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

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