Table of contents:
- Antipsychotics, a type of schizophrenia medication that doctors often prescribe
- Types of antipsychotic drugs
- 1. Oral antipsychotic drugs (oral drugs)
- 2. Long-acting injectable drugs (long-acting injection)
- Side effects of antipsychotics as drugs for schizophrenia
Considering that schizophrenia is a chronic disease, patients with this mental disorder need treatment long enough to recover. One effective method of treatment is to take schizophrenia medication regularly. If the patient does not take schizophrenia medication regularly, the chances of symptom recurrence are even greater.
So the more frequent recurrences occur, the patient's condition will decrease and the risk of permanent brain damage will also be higher. So, what are the schizophrenia drug options that doctors often prescribe? Check out the various drug options below.
Antipsychotics, a type of schizophrenia medication that doctors often prescribe
Treatment of schizophrenia has several methods, including drug administration and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), aka electrical therapy. However, currently the administration of antipsychotic drugs is the most common practice, while electrical therapy has been largely abandoned.
Antipsychotics are primary drugs used to reduce and control psychotic symptoms. Psychotic is a condition that affects a person's mind, causing hallucinations, delusions, unclear thoughts, and behavior or speech that is not normal.
These drugs work by affecting the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin in the brain, so they can help relieve a variety of symptoms of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, and others.
It should be understood that antipsychotics cannot cure schizophrenia, but they can help relieve symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life. This medicine must be given by a doctor's prescription.
Types of antipsychotic drugs
Based on the method of administration, antipsychotics are also divided into two types, namely:
1. Oral antipsychotic drugs (oral drugs)
This drug is usually given to patients who have mild schizophrenia symptoms and it is still possible to take medication regularly. Medicines are available in the form of tablets, liquid, or fast dissolving tablets and must be taken daily at least 2-3 per day.
Since the patient has to take this medicine every day, there is a risk of forgetting to take the medication, which in turn increases the risk of recurrence even more.
2. Long-acting injectable drugs (long-acting injection)
This medicine is usually given to patients who find it difficult to take medication every day and no one can monitor them. The reason is, this drug does not have to be taken every day. The interval of drug administration is around 2-4 weeks and some can even be given for 12 weeks.
The main advantage of this type of drug is that the patient does not need to be reminded to take medication and allows a lower risk of recurrence.
Met at the South Asean Mental Health Forum, Thursday (30/8), Jakarta, which was supported by PT Johnson and Johnson Indonesia, Dr. Eka Viora SpKJ, Chairperson of the Indonesian Association of Mental Health Specialists (PDSKJI), said “Injectable drugs are usually given to patients who are busy or have busy activities. The fear is that the activities they undertake will make patients forget to take medication and worsen their condition, so they are given injections to make it easier. "
Unfortunately this drug can only be given by medical personnel. Even so, this certainly brings good news, because patients are more likely to see doctors more regularly.
Side effects of antipsychotics as drugs for schizophrenia
Antipsychotics are divided into two groups, namely:
Atypical antipsychotics
This drug is the latest generation of antipsychotic drugs, aka the second generation. Compared to the first generation, this type of antipsychotic is considered to have milder side effects, so it is most often recommended by doctors. Several types of the latest generation of antipsychotic drugs are olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, aripiprazole, lurasidone, and risperidone.
Typical antipsychotics
This drug is a first-generation drug which is also often referred to as a neuroleptic. Unfortunately, this drug can cause side effects on muscles and nerves, for example muscle spasms, twitching and shaking.
Although atypical antipsychotics are often prescribed because of the minimum side effects, typical antipsychotics are generally less expensive. Some of these first-generation antipsychotic drugs include chlorpromazine, haloperidol, perphenazine, and fluphenazine.
In the case of schizophrenia, medication is the main option for controlling symptoms. Considering that this mental disorder is a chronic disease, the treatment is also long-term. Not infrequently many families are worried about the side effects of this disease treatment.
However, it should be noted that every drug has side effects, including the antipsychotics used as drugs for schizophrenia. Even so, you don't need to worry. Because the side effects of this drug can generally be overcome, as long as the patient has regular consultations with the doctor.
"All (drugs) have side effects. That's why you have to consult your doctor, the side effects of the drug can all be overcome. There are drugs that have a side effect of drowsiness, so we are looking for drugs that are not sleepy. If he needs sleep, then we give him a medicine that has a sedative effect. So, everything can be resolved and nothing worries for him (schizophrenia patient) to use medication for life. ", Said Dr. Eka Viora SpKJ explained further.
Therefore, make sure you always consult your doctor about the benefits and side effects of any drug that is prescribed to prevent serious complications.
