Early diagnosis — and treatment — can improve the chances of a successful recovery. With proper treatment, it's possible to improve your quality of life by minimizing the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Some people have a harder time controlling their symptoms than others do. For most people, schizophrenia will require ongoing treatment, even after symptoms have subsided. Antipsychotic drugs are often used to treat schizophrenia.
These medications help relieve hallucinations, delusions, and thinking problems. Antipsychotics work by changing the way certain chemicals, called neurotransmitters , act in the brain. Antipsychotics help control the function of brain circuits involved in thinking, mood, and perception. There are many different antipsychotic drugs on the market. Newer drugs aren't necessarily better drugs. Several reviews and studies in adults and children have found that the differences between the classes are relatively small and difficult to predict.
Both classes may be about as effective at reducing so-called "positive" schizophrenia symptoms , such as hallucinations or delusions, though second-generation antipsychotics may be better at treating so-called "negative" symptoms, such as depressed mood and social withdrawal.
Not every drug will work for every person. First-generation antipsychotics, which began to be developed in the s, can cause restless movements or muscle spasms as a side effect. While some of the movements or changes in muscle tone are treatable, in some cases people can develop long-term or even permanent abnormal movements.
This side effect is typically related to the duration of treatment and is more common in older people. Second-generation antipsychotics were developed later and don't cause as many movement problems. They are, however, more likely to cause other side effects, such as weight gain, as well as the development of related issues, such as diabetes and high cholesterol.
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Overview Antipsychotic medications can reduce or relieve symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions false beliefs and hallucinations seeing or hearing something that is not there.
Do I need this treatment? What does Antipsychotic Medications do? Side effects of Antipsychotic Medications Antipsychotic medication can cause unpleasant side-effects, especially when the symptoms are severe and a higher dose of medication is used.
Your doctor may: adjust your dose prescribe other medications to help control side-effects change your medication. Side-effects of antipsychotics Movement effects: Tremors, muscle stiffness and tics can occur.
The higher the dose, the more severe these effects. The risk of these effects may be lower with the second generation medications than with the older drugs.
Other drugs e. Dizziness: Feelings of dizziness may occur, especially when getting up from a sitting or lying position. They can also be sedating. Diabetes: Schizophrenia is a risk factor for diabetes. Antipsychotic drugs can increase this risk. This effect may be mistaken for a worsening of illness rather than a side-effect of the medication. These same drugs can also have the opposite effect, making people feel tired. Some people may feel either wired or tired, and some may feel both at the same time.
Tardive dyskinesia: For every year that a person takes antipsychotic medication, there is a five per cent chance of developing tardive dyskinesia TD , a condition that causes people to have repetitive involuntary movements. The risk of TD is highest with the first generation antipsychotics, although it can occur with the second generation drugs. TD can worsen when you stop taking medication and can be permanent. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: This rare but serious complication is usually associated with the use of high doses of typical antipsychotics early in treatment.
Signs include fever, muscle stiffness and delirium. Controlling the side-effects of antipsychotics You can help to control possible side-effects on your own by: getting regular exercise and eating a low-fat, low-sugar, high-fibre diet e.
Types of Antipsychotic Medications NOTE: medications are referred to in two ways: by their generic name and by their brand or trade names. Antipsychotic medications are generally divided into two categories: atypical second generation antipsychotics typical first generation antipsychotics The main difference between the two types of antipsychotics is that the first generation drugs block dopamine and the second generation drugs block dopamine and also affect serotonin levels.
Atypical antipsychotics The second generation antipsychotics are usually the first choice for the treatment of schizophrenia. Possible side-effects of atypical antipsychotics include: Dry mouth dizziness blurred vision seizures rarely The following list details other side-effects of atypical antipsychotics and which drugs are most likely to least likely to have these effects.
Frequently Asked Questions How long should I take antipsychotics? How do I cut down or stop taking antipsychotics? Fuel discovery. Save lives. Please select a newsletter. Please complete the following:. CAMH Foundation - provides updates on the mental health movement and ways you can get involved. First Name Please input a first name. Last Name Please input a last name. Email Please input an email address.
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How long should I take antipsychotics? CBT sessions usually last for about an hour. Many people with schizophrenia rely on family members for their care and support.
While most family members are happy to help, caring for somebody with schizophrenia can place a strain on any family. Family therapy is a way of helping you and your family cope better with your condition. It involves a series of informal meetings over a period of around 6 months. If you think you and your family could benefit from family therapy, speak to your care co-ordinator or GP. Arts therapies are designed to promote creative expression. Working with an arts therapist in a small group or individually can allow you to express your experiences with schizophrenia.
Some people find expressing things in a non-verbal way through the arts can provide a new experience of schizophrenia and help them develop new ways of relating to others.
Arts therapies have been shown to alleviate the negative symptoms of schizophrenia in some people. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NICE recommends that arts therapies are provided by an arts therapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council who has experience of working with people with schizophrenia. Page last reviewed: 11 November Next review due: 11 November Treatment - Schizophrenia. Most people with schizophrenia are treated by community mental health teams CMHTs.
A CMHT can be made up of and provide access to: social workers community mental health nurses — who have specialist training in mental health conditions occupational therapists pharmacists counsellors and psychotherapists psychologists and psychiatrists — the psychiatrist is usually the senior clinician in the team After your first episode of schizophrenia, you should initially be referred to an early intervention team.
Care programme approach CPA People with complex mental health conditions are usually entered into a treatment process known as a care programme approach CPA.
There are 4 stages to a CPA: assessment — your health and social needs are assessed care plan — a care plan is created to meet your health and social needs key worker appointed — a key worker, usually a social worker or nurse, is your first point of contact with other members of the CMHT reviews — your treatment will be regularly reviewed and, if needed, changes to the care plan can be agreed Not everyone uses the CPA.
Further information Rethink Mental Illness: Care programme approach Acute episodes People who have serious psychotic symptoms as the result of an acute schizophrenic episode may require a more intensive level of care than a CMHT can provide. These episodes are usually dealt with by antipsychotic medication and special care. Without the involvement of the CRT, these people would require treatment in hospital.
Voluntary and compulsory detention More serious acute schizophrenic episodes may require admission to a psychiatric ward at a hospital or clinic. It's only possible for someone to be compulsorily detained at a hospital if they have a severe mental disorder and if detention is necessary: in the interests of the person's own health and safety to protect others People with schizophrenia who are compulsorily detained may need to be kept in locked wards.
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