Benefits and Side Effects of Schizophrenia Medication

Medicines commonly used for schizophrenia are antipsychotic drugs. This drug is used to improve symptoms experienced by sufferers . Antipsychotic drugs usually must be used in the long term , so that patients schizophrenia and families it need to really understand the side effects which may be t leverage.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects a person's feelings, thoughts, and behavior. Symptoms that appear can be:

  • Negative symptoms, such as loss of life motivation, difficulty concentrating, unable to show expression and feeling, no desire to care for oneself.
  • Positive symptoms, such as hallucinating and having strong beliefs about things that don't really exist or are delusional.
  • Having a mindset disorder, for example, a mindset that is strange and difficult to understand by others.
  • Difficulty remembering (memory disorders).
  • It's hard to establish social relationships with other people.
  • Mood or mood that is easily changed.

Benefits and Side Effects of Schizophrenia Medication

Benefits of Antipsychotic Drugs

Schizophrenic drugs or antipsychotics work by changing the activity of certain chemicals in the brain. These drugs are given in the form of drinking drugs, such as tablets, capsules, or syrup, and some are in the form of injections.

Antipsychotic drugs can help reduce symptoms of schizophrenia. The effects seen in schizophrenics after taking this drug include:

  • Decreased hallucinations.
  • Delusions begin to weaken and disappear after a few weeks.
  • Reduced anxiety, guilt, tension, and difficulty concentrating.
  • The ability to interact with others is better.

After 6 weeks of taking schizophrenia drugs or regular antipsychotic drugs, most sufferers will feel that their condition is generally much better than before.

It should be understood that antipsychotic drugs can indeed help prevent recurrence and relieve symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions, but cannot cure schizophrenia completely.

Most sufferers need to take medication in the long run, even when there are no symptoms, so as not to relapse.

Regularly taking antipsychotic drugs in doses recommended by doctors is expected to maintain a stable mental and physical health condition for people with schizophrenia. That way, various therapies and other efforts taken, such as psychotherapy and family support, can provide optimal results.

Antipsychotic Drug Side Effects

There are currently two categories of antipsychotic drugs, namely first generation antipsychotic drugs ( haloperidol and chlorpromazine ) and second generation ( risperidone , olanzapine , and quetiapine ). A mental health specialist (psychiatrist) will determine the type and dosage of the drug used based on the diagnosis and condition of the patient.

Each drug has different side effects, but in general, the side effects that might be caused by atypicotic drugs are:

Extrapyramidal syndrome

This syndrome consists of a set of symptoms consisting of:

  • Dystonia or the muscles move uncontrollably, especially the muscles in the neck area. This condition can cause the head to snap or look back repeatedly, eyes glaring, tongue sticking out, and abnormal posture.
  • Akathisia , where the patient feels restless and continues to move the body.
  • Tardive dyskinesia, which is characterized by the mouth repeatedly chewing or sucking.
  • Symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, such as trembling (tremor) and body movements

This symptom of extrapyramidal syndrome is more common in schizophrenic patients who use first generation antipsychotic drugs.

Other side effects

In addition to extrapyramidal syndrome, there are also several other side effects of the medication for schizophrenia, such as:

  • Increased weight, as well as increased blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This effect is mainly due to second generation antipsychotics.
  • Pusing.
  • Lemas.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Heart palpitations.
  • Skin rash.
  • Libido disorders.

Side effects that are uncomfortable are indeed one reason many patients or their families stop the treatment of schizophrenia when symptoms begin to improve. But keep in mind, these drugs are not recommended to be stopped suddenly without the knowledge of the doctor, because it can trigger recurrence of symptoms of schizophrenia.

If the dose of the drug needs to be reduced to prevent the risk of drug side effects, the doctor will usually reduce it gradually. In addition, the side effects of antipsychotic drugs can be minimized by administering anticholinergic drugs, which are usually used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

It is important for schizophrenic patients to routinely examine the doctor and tell the progress of the symptoms, so that the dose of the drug is adjusted to the patient's last condition. If the schizophrenic patient is difficult to communicate with, the family is expected to accompany during the examination.

Written by:

dr. Irene Cindy Sunur

Label : Health cat_Health

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