Antipsychotics – Medication against Psychoses

Antipsychotics are psychotropic drugs (medication for psychological and/or psychiatric complaints) to help combat or prevent psychosis. Psychosis involves loss of contact with reality (hallucinations, delusions, voices). This article provides an overview of classic and atypical antipsychotics (brand and substance names). Side effects, side effects and withdrawal symptoms after stopping antipsychotic medication are also discussed.

Psychotropic drugs – Antipsychotics – Medication Psychological and/or psychiatric complaints

Psychotropic drugs can be used to combat or prevent psychological and psychiatric complaints, but they do not eliminate the causes. Psychotropic drugs are often used in mental health care as part of a treatment method and can improve the quality of life of people with psychological complaints, combat a condition or sometimes prevent recurrence of complaints.

Operation – Effectiveness Psychof armaca . The effect and effectiveness of psychotropic drugs can differ from patient to patient and from situation to situation. In addition, medications/psychotropic drugs always have side effects in addition to their intended effects. It is important to take time, patience and expert guidance to evaluate the dosage, effects, effectiveness and side effects of medications and to adjust their use where necessary. Psychotropic drugs can be divided into/aimed at:

Combating or preventing psychoses – Antipsychotics
Combating or preventing a depressed mood – Antidepressants (Antidepressants – Medication Depression)
Combating mood swings – Mood stabilizers
Fighting Anxiety – Sedatives and antidepressants
Combating insomnia – Sleep aids

In this article, antipsychotics are discussed in more detail (the other psychotropic drugs mentioned above are discussed in more detail – each in a separate article).

Please note: This article is for information purposes only. For correct use, application, dosage or modification of antipsychotics, it is necessary to consult with an expert doctor.

What is a Psychosis? – Antipsychotics – Acute psychosis

What is a Psychosis? A psychosis is a condition in which a person loses touch with reality.

Antipsychotics . The aim of antipsychotics is to make the psychotic symptoms (including delusions, hallucinations, voices) disappear or reduce, so that a person can regain better contact with his/her environment. Antipsychotic medication can also reduce anxiety, agitation and tension that can arise during psychosis. These drugs are also used to prevent possible new psychoses.

Acute psychosis. If there is an acute psychosis (a crisis situation), antipsychotics are often administered by injection.

Effects of Antipsychotics – Evaluation of Use of Psychotropic Drugs

Evaluation Effects of Antipsychotics. The effects of this medication may vary from person to person. What is effective for one person may not or hardly be effective for another. With antipsychotics, it is often only after three or four weeks that it can be assessed whether the drug works sufficiently or effectively. If it does not have sufficient effectiveness, either the dosage will have to be changed or another medication will have to be prescribed. The use of antipsychotics requires thorough and regular evaluation of the effects by an expert doctor, such as a psychiatrist.

Types of Antipsychotics – Substance Name and Brand Name

Classic and A-typical. There are two types of antipsychotics, namely: ‘classic’ and ‘atypical’ antipsychotics. They differ in the degree of effect and in the side effects they can cause.

Substance name and brand name. The names of medicines can sometimes cause confusion, as they have both a substance name (generic name) and a brand name. When the
patent on a medicine has expired, other manufacturers – apart from the inventor – may also produce the medicine in question. However, they are not allowed to use the brand name.

Substance name cheaper. Medicines provided under the substance name are generally cheaper, while the effectiveness is often the same. In the overviews below, both the substance name and the brand name are given. Brand names are also given of some often prescribed antipsychotics abroad (which you can also encounter on the Internet).

Antipsychotics – Classic and Atypical Antipsychotics – Brand Name and Substance Name

Classic high-dose antipsychotics	Classical antipsychotics in low doses	Atypical Antipsychotics
Substance name	Brand name	Substance name	Brand name	Substance name	Brand name
alimemazine	Nedeltran	benzperidol	Frenactil	clozapine	Leponex
chlorpromazine	Largactil	bromoperidol	Improve	olanzapine	Zyprexa
chloroprotixene	Truxal	flufenazine	Anatensol	risperidon	Risperdal
pipamperon	Dipiperon	flupentixol	Fluanxol	sulpiride	Dogmatil
pipotiazine	Piportil	fluspirileen	Imap	quetiapine	Seroquel
thioridazine	Melleril	haloperidol	Haldol
tiapride	Tiapridal	penfluridol	Semap
		perfenazine	Trifalon
		periciazine	Neuleptil
		pimozide	Orap
		tiapride	Tiapridal

Antipsychotics and Duration of Use

Duration of use of antipsychotics. The duration of use of antipsychotics can vary. If the risk of recurrence of the psychosis or psychotic symptoms is high, longer use will often be indicated (sometimes even lifelong use). People with psychosis will also have to weigh the pros and cons of using psychotropic drugs themselves. In addition to the doctor’s advice, contact with fellow sufferers can be of support. If in doubt, a second opinion can also be requested.

Side effects and side effects of antipsychotics

Effect – Side effect. In addition to antipsychotic drugs, other drugs are sometimes used to prevent or counteract side effects, for example. The effect and side effects of the medicine are always described in detail in the package leaflet. The pharmacist is even obliged to provide you with a package leaflet for every medicine they give you. You can also (if you have lost the package leaflet, for example) consult the package leaflets of all medicines via the internet; including on the sites: www.repertorium.org or www.ziekenhuis.nl.

Classic – Atypical . There are two groups of antipsychotics, namely the classic and the newer so-called
atypical antipsychotics. Atypical medications are claimed to cause fewer movement disorders or sometimes to have a more effective effect than traditional medication. Antipsychotics can have a variety of side effects, which may vary from person to person and situation. Some side effects occur in very few patients, others in many users of this drug. Always consult your doctor and do not decide yourself whether to change or discontinue the antipsychotics you are taking. Below are the side effects and symptoms that could occur.

Antipsychotics – Possible Side Effects and Side Effects

Side effects and side effects that may occur with anti-psychotic medication (not necessarily):

Flattening of emotional life, loss of initiative and activity, feeling of being trapped
Drowsiness or drowsiness; in some cases dizziness
Sleep problems, sexual problems, temporarily lowered blood pressure (can lead to falls in the elderly)
Weight gain (mainly with atypical antipsychotics)
Restlessness in the legs (akathisia)
Anticholinergic effects: dry mouth and/or eyes, difficulty urinating, blurred vision, memory and concentration disorders and constipation
Sudden tension or relaxation of muscles (disturbed tone, acute dystonia, often starts with muscle twitching of the tongue, eyes, jaw and neck). To combat these symptoms, another drug (for example Akineton) is often prescribed in addition to the antipsychotic
Parkinson-like symptoms: lack of movement and stiffness of muscles, trembling (sometimes also problems with talking and walking)
Particularly in the elderly: confusion, hallucinations and restlessness
Late movement disorders (tardive dyskinesia). This side effect ultimately occurs in one fifth of chronic users of classic antipsychotics

Contraindications – Interaction/Interference with other Medications/Diseases

Alert to usage. There may also be contraindications for certain medications. Certain medications cannot always be used and can even be dangerous in some cases. Consider, for example, use during pregnancy, at too young or too old an age, when interacting with other medication or interfering with other health problems. Although the description of the medicines is under the control of the prescribing doctor/expert and the pharmacist, it is important to remain alert – just to be on the safe side.

Discontinuation of medication – Stopping antipsychotics – Withdrawal symptoms

Stopping Antipsychotics. After stopping antipsychotics, the chance of relapse can be around 55 to 90%. The chance of relapse is smaller if someone:

takes a relatively low dose of antipsychotics
slowly/gradually reduce the antipsychotic medication
has had less (often) psychoses
the (last) psychosis was a long time ago

Withdrawal symptoms from antipsychotic drugs

Common withdrawal symptoms:

Nausea, vomiting
Diarrhea
Decreased appetite
Excessive sweating
Insomnia
Restlessness, nervousness
Fear
Side movements (dyskinesias)
Running nose

Rare withdrawal symptoms:

Dizziness
muscle strain
Feeling hot or cold
Strange sensations

The above-mentioned side effects (dyskinesias) of antipsychotics generally disappear gradually, but not always. Although estimates vary, it appears that approximately 10 to 40% of patients still suffer from these symptoms five years after stopping the medication. It may happen that the patient did not experience any side effects or side effects while taking the medication, but did experience them after stopping/discontinuing the antipsychotics.

Antidepressants – Medication for Depression