Treating the symptoms of acute schizophrenia has always including antipsychotic drugs, these drugs have long been known to reduce the symptoms and reduce the risk of future psychotic breakdowns. There are two different stages of medication use. The first stage is required to eliminate the acute psychotic symptoms while the second stage is a maintenance stage to keep the symptoms under control. Higher dosages of medication are normally needed during the acute stage of illness management and lower dosages are needed in the maintenance stage of treatment which is usually for life.
The reduction of dosage level actually starts in the acute stage as the symptoms disappear. The goal is to get the patient on the lowest drug level that will maintain and control the schizophrenia. If symptoms reappear during this period the dosages will again be increased until a level dosage can be found that will sustain the individual and control the symptoms. The system is not foolproof, even with controlled supervision over medication the person may experience a relapse and need increased dosages once again. However, relapses are more common when total medication has been discontinued.
Most patients suffering from schizophrenia will benefit from drug medication, others may not respond to medication therapy and some patients who have schizophrenia do not need medication at all. It is difficult to know which patients are going to fall in which category and so it is very important that a person suffering from symptoms of schizophrenia be followed by a psychiatrist to manage the symptoms in a systematic and meaningful way and therefore any issues can be dealt with right away.
Antipsychotic medication has been a proven treatment for over 50 years and will continue to remain in use as new and more effective medications are being developed. Antipsychotic drugs cannot cure the disease, but they help manage the illness and allow the patient to live a normal productive life. The physical make up of each individual is unique and therefore not every medication will work on every patient. Doctors must often try different medication just to find the one that works the best for their patients.
Neuroleptics
The very first drug that was discovered by accident actually, was Thorazine. Afterward different medications such as Navane, Prolxin, Stalazine Trilafon Haldol, and Mellaril were included. These drugs are called neuroleptics because they have known side affects, which affect the nervous system. These drugs do manage the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, which are hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, loose associations, ambivalence, or emotional lability. These older antipsychotic drugs are not as effective for negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as flat affect or deceased motivation.
The older antipsychotic drugs were called typical antipsychotic drugs and now since 1989, there are new antipsychotic drugs called atypical antipsychotic drugs. These drugs are effective in controlling muscles spasms and tremors, restlessness, or muscle rigidity.
Clorzaril was the first of the brands to be used. It is used when other antipsychotic drugs fail. This drug does have a known side affect where it reduces the white blood cells affecting the immune system. Patients who are currently on Clozaril must have blood tests every two weeks to make sure the white blood cell count does not go down too low.
There are other atypical antipsychotic drugs which include: Seroquel, Risperdal, Geodon and Zyprexa. Most people can live at home and in the community when they are taking these medications.
Many of these medications will have side affects and therefore it is important to report all side affects to your doctor. Sometimes it just takes a change in dose or a change of medication to give you the relief you need. Never stop medication on your own as it can cause a serious relapse and you will be very ill once again.