The use of antipsychotics is of paramount importance for symptom control in schizophrenia. It is the basic and at the same time the most effective therapeutic method, removing productive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations) and preventing recurrence of the disease.
Classic and atypical drugsAntipsychotics, otherwise known as neuroleptics, are divided into first-generation drugs (typical, classic) and second-generation drugs (atypical). The above groups differ in the potential of causing the so-called extrapyramidal symptoms and influence on negative symptoms (social withdrawal, poor expression of emotions). In both cases, atypical drugs show a more favorable profile of action.
Long-acting antipsychotics (LAI) – a modern alternative to oral therapyIn addition to oral forms of the above drugs, their equivalents in the form of extended-release injections (LAI from long-acting injectable) are also available. This type of therapy, conducted through injections of the active substance 1-2 times a month, significantly improves cooperation between the doctor and the patient, thus increasing its effectiveness.
More about this type of therapy at:zdrowiepsychiczne.pl/nowoczesna-formy-leczenia.
Neuroleptics are not without side effectsNeuroleptics, despite their effectiveness, are unfortunately not a miracle cure and, like other drugs, they have some side effects. However, the appropriate selection of the drug, its dose and the form of administration allows achieving therapeutic success with a minimum number of unpleasant side effects for the patient.
Common side effects – what to expect?Side effects that may occur during treatment with neuroleptics include: fatigability, fatigue, memory and concentration disorders, sleep disorders. In addition, there are also drops in blood pressure, headaches and dizziness, dry mucous membranes, blurred vision, heart rhythm disturbances, difficulty urinating, excessive thirst or skin rashes.
The most common side effects of antipsychotics are the so-called extrapyramidal symptoms affecting the nervous system – muscle tremor (similar to what can be seen in Parkinson’s disease), increased muscle tone, slowness of movement, restlessness.
It also happens that during the treatment hormonal disorders, constipation or diarrhoea, weight gain, sexual disorders, hypersensitivity to sunlight, or carbohydrate (type 2 diabetes) or lipid metabolism disorders occur.
A serious but rare complication of treatment is a decrease in the level of white blood cells (hence control of blood counts is necessary).
When is immediate medical attention necessary?Complications may occur during therapy with neuroleptics that require immediate medical intervention. They are rather rare, but serious, sometimes even life-threatening, so it is important to be aware that they can occur. The most serious is the neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which consists of, among others, triad of symptoms: impaired consciousness, increased muscle tone, increased body temperature.
Side effects are manageableThe above list does not, of course, exhaust the possible side effects that may occur during the treatment. Before using the drug, read the leaflet attached to it, which contains more detailed data appropriate for a specific pharmacological agent (drugs, although they belong to the same group and have a similar profile of action, differ from each other, and thus may also vary in the extent to which they cause individual side effects).
It is worth mentioning that the fact that a given drug has the potential to cause certain side effects does not mean that these effects will occur – it depends on both the characteristics of the medicinal product and the individual predisposition of the patient.
In addition, if they occur, specialists are able to eliminate them by reducing the dose of the drug, changing it to another drug or incorporating a corrective drug. Some symptoms can be dealt with by the patient on his own, e.g. in the case of constipation, by using a high-fiber diet.
Currently, various types of drugs and their forms are available, which enables the individualization of the therapeutic process and adapting it to the needs and expectations of the patient. The basis of therapy, however, is the willingness of both the doctor and the patient to cooperate – a good doctor-patient relationship determines therapeutic success, free from unpleasant side effects or at least with a minimum of them.