Antipsych drug use
...s data was then compared with that of McLean Hospital patients treated in 1993 and Boston area patients treated in 1989 (Article). Chlorpromazine Chlorpromazine, also known as Thorazine, is an antipsychotic drug. This is a sedative which is used for suppression of agitation and disorganized and psychotic thinking, as well as in the management of psychotic disorders including manifestations of manic depressive illness, manic phase and severe behavioral problems in children, but is very strong for less severe agitation/anxiety; it is usually used after lesser strength drugs have been effective. "Save the big guns for last", the only serious long-term potential disorder is Tardive Dyskinesia. Tardive Dyskinesia is a serious, irreversible neurological disorder that can appear at any age; it is a side effect of taking antipsychotic/neuroleptic drugs. Symptoms can range from hardly noticeable to profound; they involve uncontrollable movement of various body parts, including the body trunk, legs, arms, fingers, mouth, lips, or tongue, i.e.: an involuntary smacking of the lips and grimacing, etc. Once any symptom of Tardive Dyskinesia appears, the antipsychotic/neuroleptics must be discontinued, however, the side effects that have already occurred have been shown to continue permanently; approximately 10-20% of people taking antipsychotic/neuroleptic drugs for more than one year will be affected (Internet). In the 3 month 1998 group, antipsychotics were prescribed for 377 inpatients – 349 of these same patients were prescribed medication at the time of their discharge as well. The average hospitalization period for this group was 29 days – in comparison with the average hospitalization period in 1993, which was 18.5 days and in 1989 was 73 days. Their DSM IV diagnoses were primarily psychoses, major depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, substance abuse and the others were miscellaneous. The medications most commonly prescribed were: Olanzapine – given to 36% Olanzapine, also known as Zyprexa, is an antipsychotic medication used to treat Schizophrenia; it works by decreasing unusually high levels of brain activity for suppression of hallucinations and delusions as well as other psychotic thinking patterns. Although side effects from Olanzapine are not common, they can occur; they are: headache, agitation, drowsiness, dry mouth, etc. Since Olanzapine is one of the newer antipsychotics on the market, it is said to have less sever side effects than would Chlorpromazine or Haloperidol, for instance (Internet). Risperidone – given to 17% Risperidone, also known as Risperdal, is an antipsychotic medication used for the management of psychotic disorders, such as Schizophrenia by working on nerves throughout the body and brain by blocking several of the receptors on nerves, i.e.: dopamine and serotonin; this alters the chemical messages which nerves transmit to each other. Risperidone is a relatively new antipsychotic medication that is said to have much fewer side effects than many of the older medications. The most commonly noted side effects associated with this medication are extra pyramidal effects, i.e.: sudden, often jerky, involuntary motions of the head, neck, arms, body, or eyes, dizziness, hyperactivity, fatigue and nausea. Risperidone may cause a condition called "Orthostatic Hypotension" during the early phase (the first week or two) of treatment. Orthostatic Hypotension will cause dizziness when rising from a lying or sitting position (Internet). Clozapine – given to 6% Clozapine, also known as Clozaril, is an antipsychotic, used to treat schizophrenia in patients where other medicine has not worked. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Although side effects from Clozapine are not common, they c...