Antipsychotics are medications primarily used to manage psychosis, which includes symptoms such as delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), paranoia, disordered thinking, and confusion. They are most commonly prescribed for schizophrenia but are also used in bipolar disorder, severe depression, Alzheimer's disease, and other conditions involving psychosis
. What antipsychotics do:
- They reduce or relieve psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and disorganized thinking
- They help control anxiety, agitation, mania, violent or disruptive behavior, and confused or incoherent speech
- They stabilize mood in bipolar disorder and reduce tics in Tourette syndrome
- They do not cure the underlying condition but help manage symptoms and prevent relapse when taken long-term
How they work:
- Most antipsychotics block dopamine receptors in the brain, reducing the effect of dopamine, a neurotransmitter believed to be involved in psychotic symptoms
- Many also affect other neurotransmitters such as serotonin, noradrenaline, and glutamate, which influence mood and cognition
- Different generations of antipsychotics (typical/first-generation, atypical/second-generation, and third-generation) vary in their receptor targets and side effect profiles
Additional points:
- The full effect of antipsychotics may take several weeks to develop, though some calming effects can occur within hours or days
- They are often used alongside therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and social supports to improve quality of life
- Side effects can be significant and include movement disorders, weight gain, metabolic changes, and others, so treatment aims to balance symptom control with minimizing side effects
In summary, antipsychotics alter brain chemistry to reduce or relieve psychotic symptoms and related behavioral disturbances, helping individuals achieve greater stability and function
