What are the side effects of the antipsychotic medication and give examples?

What are the side effects of the antipsychotic medication and give examples?

Side effects of antipsychotic medications

  • dry mouth.
  • dizziness.
  • weight gain that can lead to diabetes.
  • blurred vision.
  • movement effects (for example, tremor, stiffness, agitation)
  • sedation (for example causing sleepiness or low energy)
  • loss of menstrual periods in women.
  • fluid retention.

How can you reduce the side effects of antipsychotics?

Here are some coping skills that may help with side effects:

  1. Get on to the right medication for you.
  2. Change the dose of the antipsychotic medication.
  3. Keep on taking the medication.
  4. Treat the side effects of the antipsychotic.
  5. Find out as much as you can about your schizophrenia.
  6. Join a support group.

What is another problematic side effect for all atypical antipsychotics?

This paper reviews the available evidence concerning the side effects of atypical antipsychotics, including weight gain, type II diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, QTc interval prolongation, myocarditis, sexual side effects, extrapyramidal side effects and cataract.

Are there any side effects to taking antipsychotic medications?

The antipsychotic medications either block this receptor or reduce its activity.” Like all medications, antipsychotics can come with side effects. “While their benefit is thought to be largely related to their dopamine blocking or reducing effects, they have effects on other neurochemicals and receptors in the brain,” Pandurangi says.

What are the side effects of second generation antipsychotics?

This is more likely to occur with second generation (newer) antipsychotics. A number of blood disorders are linked to antipsychotics: Reduced white blood cells. Agranulocytosis, which involves the loss of one type of white blood cell.

Are there any antipsychotic drugs legal in the UK?

The following newer antipsychotics are licensed for use in the UK: Older antipsychotics licensed for use in the UK include: 3. Side effects of antipsychotic drugs As with all medicines, antipsychotics can produce side effects in some people. The most common include movement disorders (referred to as extrapyramidal side effects) such as:

What kind of skin problems can antipsychotics cause?

Antipsychotics can cause skin problems such as: Rashes, from an allergic reaction to the medication. This usually clears up in 24–48 hours after the drug is stopped. Photosensitivity, which can make you more likely to burn when exposed to sunlight for any length of time. This is perhaps most common with chlorpromazine.

Do antipsychotics have permanent effects on dopamine?

Antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol and chlorpromazine tend to block dopamine D2 receptors in the dopaminergic pathways of the brain. This means that dopamine released in these pathways has less effect. Excess release of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway has been linked to psychotic experiences .

What are antipsychotic drugs have less side effects?

Atypical antipsychotics are antipsychotics that are less likely than traditional antipsychotics to cause certain side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).

How do antipsychotic drugs have their effect?

Antipsychotics are thought to work by altering the effect of certain chemicals in the brain, called dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline and acetylcholine. These chemicals have the effect of changing your behaviour, mood and emotions. Dopamine is the main chemical that these medicines have an effect on.

How do antipsychotics affect neurotransmitters?

Antipsychotics affect neurotransmitters (chemical substances released by nerve cells to direct the activity of other cells). They work by blocking blocking certain dopamine (a neurotransmitter essential to thought, motivation, short-term memory and some emotions) receptors.