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Antipsychotic drugs also known as
neuroleptics are medicines used to
treat psychosis, a severe mental illness
in which people lose touch with reality
and other mental and emotional conditions.
People with psychosis may hear voices,
see things that aren't really there,
and have strange or untrue thoughts,
such as believing that other people
can hear their thoughts or are trying
to harm them.
Anti-psychotic drugs do not cure mental
illness, but can reduce some of the
symptoms or make them milder. The
medicine may improve symptoms enough
for the person to undergo counseling
and live a more normal life.
What precautions do I need to take
for Antipsychotic drugs?
Consult a physician regularly while
taking antipsychotic drugs, especially
during the first few months. Patients
taking long-lasting injectable forms
of antipsychotic drugs should be aware
that their effects can continue for
up to 12 weeks after stopping the
drug. All precautions should be observed
during this period.
Patients who are taking lithium should
check with their physicians before
going on a low-sodium or low-salt
diet or making any other diet changes.
Too little sodium in the diet can
lead to serious side effects in people
taking this drug. Problems can also
arise if people taking lithium lose
too much water and salt from their
bodies. This can happen when they
exercise in hot weather or when they
have illnesses that cause heavy sweating,
diarrhea, or vomiting.
Anti-psychotic drugs may interact
with medicines used during surgery,
dental procedures, or emergency treatment.
These interactions could increase
the chance of side effects. Anyone
who is taking anti-psychotic drugs
should be sure to tell the health
care professional in charge before
having any surgical or dental procedures
or receiving emergency treatment.
Some anti-psychotic drugs may change
the results of certain medical tests.
Before having medical tests, anyone
taking this medicine should alert
the health care professional in charge.
People taking anti-psychotic medicines
may sweat less, which can cause the
body temperature to rise. Anyone who
takes this medicine should be careful
not to become overheated during exercise
and should avoid hot baths, hot tubs,
and saunas. Overheating could lead
to heat stroke.
Some anti-psychotic drugs also make
people more sensitive to cold. Anyone
who takes this medicine should dress
warmly in cold weather and take care
to avoid long exposure to the cold.
What are the likely side effects
of Antipsychotic drugs?
Some anti-psychotic drugs cause a
movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia
which may not go away when the patient
stops taking the medicine. The problem
is most common in older people, especially
women. Signs of tardive dyskinesia
include worm-like movements of the
tongue and other involuntary movements
of the mouth, cheeks, jaw, arms or
legs.
Some common mild side effects of
anti-psychotic drugs will go away
as the patient's body adjusts to the
medicines. Some of these effects include
- Blurred vision
- Changes in menstrual period
- Breast pain or swelling or unusual
secretion of milk
- Dry mouth or increased thirst
- Nasal congestion
- Mild nausea
More serious side effects of the antipsychotics
include
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Breathing problems
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- High or low blood pressure
- Fever
- Increased sweating
- Loss of bladder control
Some side effects, such as trembling
of the fingers and hands or involuntary
movements of the mouth, tongue, and
jaw, may occur after treatment with
this medicine has ended. Check with
a physician if any unusual symptoms
occur after stopping the drug. Anyone
who has unusual symptoms after taking
this medicine should get in touch
with his/her physician.
What are the likely drug interactions
of Antipsychotic drugs?
Antipsychotic drugs may interact
with a number of other medicines.
When this happens, the effects of
one or both of the drugs may change
or the risk of side effects may be
greater. Anyone who takes anti-psychotic
drugs should let the physician know
all other medicines he or she is taking.
The drugs that may interact with anti-psychotic
drugs are
- Other anti psychotic drugs
- Central nervous system (CNS) depressants
such as medicine for allergies, colds,
hay fever, and asthma; sedatives;
other tranquilizers; narcotic pain
medicine; muscle relaxants; medicine
for seizures; sleep aids; barbiturates;
and anesthetics.
- Antidepressants
- Epinephrine
- Levodopa (Larodopa), or levodopa-carbidopa
(Sinemet) used to treat Parkinson's
disease
- Blood pressure medicines such as
reserpine
- Water pills (diuretics), such as
furosemide (Lasix)
- Pimoline (Cylert), used to treat
attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity
The list above does not include all
the drugs that may interact with anti-psychotic
drugs. One has to be sure to check
with a physician or pharmacist before
combining anti-psychotic drugs with
any other prescription or nonprescription
(over-the-counter) medicine.
What are the medications that come
under Antipsychotic categories ?
Based on your health condition your
doctor may prescribe any of the following
antipsychotic drugs
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