Antipsychotics are a class of drugs to control and reduce the symptoms of psychosisthe bisexperienced by people with mental disorders.
Antipsychotics are available in tablet, syrup, or injectable form. This medicine can only be used according to a doctor's prescription. It should be understood, antipsychotic drugs can not cure mental disorders.
These drugs can help control the symptoms of psychosis or reduce its severity. Some of the symptoms that this drug can control are:
- hallucination
- delusions
- Mania (excessive pleasure)
- Confusion
- Rude behavior
- Messy thinking
- Severe anxiety
Antipsychotic drugs work by affecting chemicals or neurotransmitter in the brain, especially dopamine. Dopamine levels that are too high can interfere with brain function, which can cause changes in behavior, emotions, and feelings, and affect the control of muscle movement.
Antipsychotics are able to block the effects and reduce dopamine levels in the brain. This can also affect the level of neurotransmitter others, namely serotonin, noradrenaline, and acetylcholine, thereby bringing the levels of each chemical in the brain back into balance.
Generally, doctors prescribe antipsychotic drugs to treat symptoms of psychosis in conditions:
- Schizophrenia
- Manic episodes of bipolar disorder
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Severe depression
In addition, this drug can also be used to treat:
- Severe anxiety disorder (only in very small doses)
- Balance disturbances, nausea and persistent hiccups
Precautions Before Using Antipsychotics:
- Do not use antipsychotics if you have a history of allergies to drugs in this class.
- Do not reduce the dose or stop taking antipsychotic drugs indiscriminately. Carry out the control according to the schedule given by the doctor.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines and supplements.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy. All antipsychotic drugs can be harmful to the fetus and baby.
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease, lung disease, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, depression, prostate swelling, glaucoma, blood disorders, or pheochromocytoma.
- Do not consume alcoholic beverages while taking antipsychotics because they can increase the drowsiness effect.
- See your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction or overdose after taking antipsychotic drugs.
Side Effects and Dangers of Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics can cause different side effects, depending on the characteristics of each drug and the condition of the user. The following are some of the possible side effects of using antipsychotic drugs:
- Sleepy and lethargic
- Dry lips
- Dizzy
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Weight gain
- Sexual disorders
- Menstrual disorders in women
- Extrapyramidal syndromes, such as tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, akathisia, and tremor
Certain antipsychotic drugs can also cause high cholesterol levels and increase the risk of developing diabetes. Although rare, antipsychotic drugs can also cause some more serious and fatal side effects, namely:
- Long QT ssyndrome, which is characterized by heart rhythm disturbances
- Malignant neuroleptic syndrome (SNM), which is characterized by fever, muscle stiffness, low blood pressure, lethargy, and confusion
JTypes, Trademarks, and Antipsychotic Doses
There are two types of antipsychotic groups, namely:
Typical antipsychotics
Typical antipsychotics can block dopamine very strongly. However, this drug causes quite serious side effects on the muscles and nerves. Examples of typical antipsychotic drugs are:
1. Sulpiride
Sulpiride trademark: Dogmatil
Intramuscular (through the muscle) injection form
- Condition: schizophrenia
Adults: 200–800 mg/day.
Capsule and tablet form
- Condition: schizophrenia
Adults: 200–400 mg 2 times daily.
Children 14 years: same as adult dose.
2. Tifluoperazine
Trademarks of tifluoperazine: Stelazine, Stelosi 5
Intramuscular injection form
- Condition: acute psychosis
Adults: 1–2 mg, may be repeated every 4–6 hours. The maximum dose is 6 mg/day.
Children: 1 mg 1-2 times daily.
Tablet form
- Condition: psychosis
Adults: 2–5 mg 2 times daily. The dose can be increased to 40 mg/day.
Children: Maximum dose 5 mg/day in divided doses. The dose is adjusted according to the patient's age, weight, and response to the drug.
- Condition: nausea and vomiting
Adults: 1-2 mg 2 times daily. The maximum dose is 6 mg/day.
Children aged 3–5 years: Maximum dose 1 mg/day in divided doses.
Children 6–12 years: Maximum dose 4 mg/day in divided doses.
- Condition: short-term treatment of anxiety disorders
Adults: 1-2 mg 2 times daily. The maximum dose is 6 mg/day. Maximum duration of therapy is 12 weeks.
Children aged 3–5 years: Maximum dose 1 mg/day in divided doses.
Children 6–12 years: Maximum dose 4 mg/day in divided doses.
3. Fluphenazine
Trademark: Sikzonoate
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the fluphenazine drug page.
4. Haloperidol
Trademarks: Dores, Govotil, Lodomer, Haldol Decanoas, Haloperidol, Seradol, Upsikis
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the haloperidol drug page.
5. Chlorpromazine
Trademarks: Chlorpromazine, Cepezet, Meprocetil, Promactil
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the chlorpromazine drug page.
Atypical Antipsychotics
These drugs have fewer side effects on muscles and nerves than typical antipsychotics, but tend to cause weight gain and sexual disturbances. Examples of atypical antipsychotic drugs are:
1. Quetiapine
Trademarks: Q-Pin, Q-Pin XR, Quetiapine Fumarate, Quetvell, Seroquel, Seroquel XR, Soroquin XR
Tablet form:
- Condition: acute mania due to bipolar disorder
Adults: 50 mg 2 times on day 1, 100 mg 2 times on day 2, 150 mg 2 times on day 3, and 200 mg 2 times on day 4. The maximum dose is 800 mg/day.
- Condition: schizophrenia
Adult: 25 mg 2 times on day 1, 50 mg 2 times on day 2, 100 mg 2 times on day 3, and 150 mg 2 times on day 4. The maximum dose is 750 mg/day.
- Condition: prevention of bipolar disorder
Adult: same dose for treating bipolar disorder. The dose can be given according to the patient's response, in the range of 300–800 mg/day in 2 divided doses.
- Condition: depression due to bipolar disorder
Adult: 50 mg at bedtime on day 1, 100 mg on day 2, 200 mg on day 3, 300 mg on day 4. Maximum dose 600 mg/day
2. Aripiprazole
Trademarks: Abilify Discmelt, Abilify Maintena, Abilify Oral Solution, Abilify Tablet, Arinia, Aripi, Aripiprazole, Ariski, Avram, Zipren, Zonia
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the aripiprazole drug page.
3. Clozapine
Trademarks: Clorilex, Clozapine, Cycozam, Lozap, Luften, Nuzip, Sizoril
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the clozapine drug page.
4. Olanzapine
Trademarks: Olandoz, Olanzapine, Olzan, Onzapin, Remital, Sopavel, Zyprexa
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the olanzapine drug page.
5. Risperidone
Trademarks: Noprenia, Neripros, Persidal, Respirex, Risperdal, Risperdal Consta, Risperidone, Rizodal, Zofredal
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the risperidone drug page.
6. Paliperidone
Trademarks: Invega, Invega Trinza, Invega Sustenna
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the paliperidone drug page.
