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The best treatment for psychotic illness usually includes a
combination of antipsychotic medication, psychological therapy and
community support. This pamphlet answers commonly-asked questions about
antipsychotic medication (antipsychotics).
How do antipsychotic medications help?
Antipsychotic medications are helpful to people with schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder and some forms of bipolar disorder. They are
able to reduce, or sometimes eliminate, the distressing and disabling
symptoms of psychosis, such as paranoia, confused thinking, delusions
and hallucinations, so that the person taking them feels better.
How do antipsychotic medications work?
People with schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses often have an
imbalance in certain natural chemicals in the brain, especially
dopamine. Antipsychotic medications help the brain to restore its usual
chemical balance and so reduce symptoms.
How long do they take to work?
People should begin to feel better within six weeks of starting to take
antipsychotic medication. However, it can take several months before
the full benefits are felt.
What else do we know about antipsychotics?
They don’t change your personality. While you might notice changes in
your mood and the way you cope with stress, antipsychotics will not
change your personality.
They don’t make you feel good all the time
While antipsychotics can relieve the symptoms of psychosis-related
disorders, they do not stop you from feeling the normal ups and downs
of life. You may notice, though, that you find it easier to think more
clearly.
They are not the only treatment that helps you get better
Taking antipsychotic medication is one important step in getting better
but is rarely enough on its own. As well as medication, effective
treatment for schizophrenia and related disorders usually includes
ongoing clinical support in the community, psychological therapies,
education about the illness and how to deal with it, psychosocial
rehabilitation, and accommodation and employment support.
They are not addictive
Antipsychotics, like many medications, change the way you feel. This
means that if you stop taking the medication you may start to feel the
way you did before the treatment. However, antipsychotic medications
are not addictive, and you will not become dependant on them (you do
not need to take higher and higher doses to get the same benefits).
What types of antipsychotic medications are there?
There are two types of antipsychotic medications: atypical (newer)
and typical (older). While both are effective, the atypical medications
have advantages over the typical ones. These advantages include:
While the atypical antipsychotic medications are used more than the
typicals, some people find that the typical medications suit them
better.
What about injections – depot medication?
Depot medication is given by injection, which releases the drug slowly
over some weeks. Some people prefer injections as they find remembering
to take tablets difficult. Some people are required to take depot
medication as a condition of a community treatment order.
Are there any side-effects?
Like any type of medication, antipsychotics can cause unwanted effects.
Your doctor should talk about this with you and encourage you to report
back any problems you experience, as there is much that can be done to
minimise these effects. Often these are temporary and wear off with
time as your body adjusts to them. As a general rule they are less of a
problem with lower doses of medication. Remember that not everyone will
experience the same unwanted effects with the same medication – and
some people have none. Possible unwanted effects with some medications
include:
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- lower sexual responsiveness
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- stiffness or trembling in muscles
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- mild involuntary movements
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Changing the dose of medication can ease side-effects, as can
changing the time of day you take it. That is why it is important to
let your doctor know as soon as possible if you are concerned about any
of these side-effects. Your doctor should also monitor any weight gain
closely to minimise the potential risk of developing diabetes. There
are things you can do too: for example sucking sugar-free lollies can
help a dry mouth, and diet changes and an exercise program may help
with weight gain, as well as improving your overall fitness.
How do I know which one is right for me?
Choosing the best medication to prescribe is not always straightforward
because people may respond to medications differently. This means that
finding the right one for you may involve trying one or more. However,
there are some things you and your doctor can consider to work out what
type of antipsychotic medication is likely to be most helpful,
including whether you have had any physical health problems and what
symptoms you experience.
Will I need to take other medications?
Certain types of medication can be prescribed in addition to, or instead of, antipsychotics. These include:
How can I make sure I am taking the medication safely?
To get the most out of your medication:
Give your doctor as much information as possible
Remember to tell the doctor if you are taking any other medication, if
you have any allergies and when you usually wake up and go to bed. This
can help them to work with you to develop a medication plan that best
suits you.
Store your medication in an appropriate place
Heat and damp can affect most medications, so don’t store them in the
bathroom, near a sink or in your car. Instead keep them in a box
(safely out of reach of children) in your bedroom or kitchen cupboard.
Don’t share medication with other people
You should not take medication prescribed for other people, even if
their symptoms seem similar. The medication prescribed to you by your
doctor is individually tailored to help you; other medications may not
be suitable and can have adverse affects.
Take the prescribed dose
Studies show that people who are take the prescribed dose at the times
recommended by their doctor are more likely to feel better than those
who take too little or too much. So make sure that you follow the
directions on the pack to get the best benefit from your medication.
Will I ever stop taking medication?
When medication starts working and you feel better it can be tempting
to stop taking it. Like people with diabetes, high blood-pressure and
asthma, many people with mental illness will need to take medication as
prescribed on an ongoing basis to prevent symptoms coming back. Usually
medication is taken for at least a year or two after recovering well
from a first episode. If there is a second episode, medication will
probably need be taken for up to five years before your doctor reviews
the treatment. It is very important to talk with your doctor before
reducing or stopping any medication.
Are antipsychotics safe in pregnancy?
It is important to let your doctor know if you think you may be
pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Babies are sensitive to
medication and your doctor can advise you about the safest ones to use.
What about my physical health?
Some antipsychotics lead to putting on a lot of weight. Because of the
effects on your physical health, it is important to look at ways of
countering this, by being physically active and eating healthily, for
example. Smoking cigarettes also affects how well medications work, in
addition to causing serious illnesses.
Talk to your doctor about monitoring your physical health (through
waist measurements and simple blood tests, for example), and practical
ways to improve it, through being more physically active, eating
better, and quitting smoking.
How do I find out more?
It is important to ask your doctor about any concerns you have.
SANE Australia also produces a range of easy-to-read publications
and multimedia resources on mental illness. For more information about
this topic see:
SANE Australia . . . Meeting the challenge of mental illness New Antispsychotic Medications
©SANE Factsheet 10
 This
Factsheet may be freely downloaded, copied and distributed on condition
no change is made to the contents. SANE Australia is not responsible
for any actions taken as a result of information or opinions contained
in the Factsheet. [Version English, 2009]
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