Antipsychotic medications

The symptoms mental health conditions create can be scary at times. Panic attacks, extreme bouts of depression, and obsessive thoughts that won't let up.

A symptom that is often confused as a mental health issue is psychosis. It’s a distressing issue that many people experience throughout their life. The good news is that psychosis symptoms can be treated with medications.

In this article we’ll talk about:

What antipsychotics are
What psychosis is
What antipsychotics do
The different kinds of antipsychotic medications
How to find psychosis treatment

What Are Antipsychotics?

Antipsychotic medications are pharmaceutical drugs that are used primarily to treat psychosis-related symptoms. However, they can be used to treat other conditions.

What Is Psychosis?

Psychosis is a term that collects several symptoms that indicate your brain doesn’t process information as it should. It’s not a medical condition, but rather a symptom of a medical condition.

This collection of symptoms are defined by a disconnection from reality. Some psychosis symptoms include:

Hallucinations
Delusions
Disorganized thoughts
Dampened emotions
Illogical actions

While experiencing psychosis someone may see things and hear things that aren’t there. They may also believe untrue things or believe people are coming to hurt them.

Related Articles: Paranoid Personality Disorder

Image: a woman in a green sweater sitting on a beige couch with her elbows on her knees and her head in her hand. Text: psychosis is not a medical condition, but rather a symptom of a medical condition.

Conditions With Psychosis Symptoms

The cause of psychosis is a complex combination of a number of things. However, many mental health conditions are known to cause symptoms of psychosis.

Mental health conditions that are associated with symptoms of psychosis include:

Schizophrenia
Parkinson’s disease
Brain tumors
Severe depression
Bipolar disorder
Substance abuse

The likelihood of psychosis in some cases, is dependent on how extreme the mental health condition is.

Related Article: Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder

What Do Antipsychotic Medications Do?

Antipsychotic medications treat psychosis symptoms by blocking or opening neurotransmitters, which are chemical signals that affect mood and basic bodily function.

First-generation antipsychotics focus on blocking neurotransmitters dopamine, histamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine from affecting receptors.

Second-generation antipsychotics work similar to first-generation, but they also open some receptors to improve neurotransmitter movement.

Related Articles: Antidepressants

Common Conditions Antipsychotics Treat

Antipsychotic medications are used to treat a range of mental health conditions, including:

Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Depression disorders
Dissociative identity disorder (DID)
Paranoid personality disorder
Dementia

Antipsychotics affect everyone differently and the reason for prescription may vary.

No image, text: Common Conditions that antipsychotics can treat: bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, DID, paranoid personality disorder, and depressive disorders

Side Effects of Antipsychotic Medications

If taken outside of doctor’s orders, the symptoms of antipsychotic medications can be severe. Some people may experience more intense symptoms than other people, and people may experience different kinds of symptoms. Those side effects include:

Movement Issues: Some people report experiencing sudden muscle spasms, parkinson-like symptoms, and in some extreme cases neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Weight Gain: Weight gain is a common side effect in most antipsychotic patients.
Decreased Immune Function: People who are on antipsychotics have a weakened immune system and are more prone to get sick.
Sedation: Antipsychotics are known to have a sedative effect.
Heart Issues: Another issue reported is alterations to heart rhythm as well as orthostatic hypotension. People may experience dizziness or fainting after standing up quickly.

Antipsychotics can also cause negative side effects when they interact with other medications. It’s important to alert your doctor to any medications you take or changes to your prescriptions.

The Different Kinds of Antipsychotic Medications

Antipsychotic medication is a categorization of medication. There are various kinds of antipsychotics and they are each used in different situations and with different dosages.

To find the right medication and dosage for you, talk with your doctor and only take your prescription as directed.

The Most Common Antipsychotic Medications

Antipsychotic medications are not one-size-fits-all medications. These are the most common antipsychotic medications:

Quetiapine fumarate
Aripiprazole
Risperidone
Olanzapine
Cariprazine HCI

Each of these have different use cases and should only be used under the supervision of a doctor.

Long-Acting Antipsychotic Medications

Some antipsychotic medications are injectable. These medications are long acting and don’t require daily doses. Instead, medication is administered intravenously every couple weeks or every couple months.

Long-acting injectables stay in your body for a much longer time than traditional pharmaceuticals. After they’ve been injected the drug will release doses over time.

Long-acting antipsychotics are very helpful for people with schizophrenia or who are prone to forget daily medication due to psychosis.

Finding Psychosis Treatment

Psychosis is not a diagnosable condition, It’s a symptom of a condition. If you’re experiencing psychosis symptoms, it’s important to find what the root of the issue is. To do this you’ll need the help of medical professionals.

Before starting antipsychotic medication, your doctor will likely want to run some tests and get to know you better. When starting antipsychotics you’ll likely go through a trial period where you’ll be monitored closely by your doctor. They’ll be looking for any improved or worsened symptoms.

Once someone starts taking antipsychotics, they’ll likely experience improved symptoms within six weeks.

no image. Text: if you're experiencing psychosis symptoms, it's important ot find what the root of the issue is.

Holistic Treatment at Sequoia Behavioral Health

At Sequoia Behavioral Health, we take a holistic approach to mental health treatment while aiming to treat the root cause of symptoms. While staying in our residential facility or attending one of our outpatient programs, you’ll receive medication management and close monitoring.

Whether you’re seeking treatment for an addiction or other mental health issues, our compassionate staff will work closely to ensure your medication is managed properly.