Psychotic disorders are a category of mental health disorders characterized by a disconnection from reality. You may experience delusions, hallucinations, or paranoia while in the midst of a psychotic disorder. In most cases, patients don’t realize that they’re disconnected from reality: the disorder can make the improbable seem real and logical at the time. One of the most well-known psychotic disorders is schizophrenia, although sometimes bipolar disorder can also have psychotic episodes.
Psychotic disorders can be treated with medication, much like other mental health disorders. So what types of antipsychotic medications exist to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders?
How Antipsychotics Work
There are two types of antipsychotic medications: typical and non-typical, otherwise known as first generation and second generation antipsychotics. Both work by blocking dopamine production. When there is an excess of dopamine in the brain, it can cause an increase in mesolimbic activity, which then causes hallucinations, delusions, or other psychotic symptoms. Second generation medications, however, also decrease serotonin levels as new research has found that serotonin can have an impact on psychosis, as well.
Typical (First Generation) Antipsychotics
These are the oldest and most tested medications used to treat psychosis. They can be used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in particular. Typical antipsychotics include:1
- chlorpromazine (Largactil)
- flupenthixol (Fluanxol)
- haloperidol (Haldol)
- loxapine (Loxapac)
- perphenazine (Trilafon)
- pimozide (Orap)
- trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
- thiothixene (Navane)
- zuclopenthixol (Clopixol)
Side Effects of Typical Antipsychotics
Side effects will always vary based on the drug. If you’ve been prescribed a typical antipsychotic, speak with your psychiatrist about the side effects of that particular medication. Some of the potential side effects include:
- Agitation
- Constipation
- Blurry vision
- Breast tenderness or discharge from breasts
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Missed periods
- Muscle stiffness
- Weight gain
Atypical (Second Generation) Antipsychotics
These are more recent medications used to treat mental health disorders, which both block dopamine and decrease serotonin levels in the brain. They are primarily prescribed for schizophrenia though in some cases they may be used to treat anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, or PTSD.
- aripiprazole (Abilify)
- clozapine (Clozaril)
- ziprasidone (Zeldox)
- risperidone (Risperdal)
- quetiapine (Seroquel)
- olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- paliperidone (Invega)
Side Effects of Atypical Antipsychotics
- Blurry vision
- Breast discharge
- Decreased sex drive
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Missed periods
- In rare cases, seizures
- Tremors and stiffness
- Weight gain or diabetes
Your psychiatrist can help you find the right treatment for your psychotic symptoms, as well as provide clarity to help mitigate any side effects. With the right antipsychotic, you can manage psychotic symptoms and live your life with less disruption. Find your provider at Rivia Mind today to begin your journey towards mental wellness or schedule a free 15-minute clinical consultation today.
Resources:
- Antipsychotic Medication – The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Chronic leukocytosis associated with clozapine treatment – Sopko, Michael A., Caley, Charles F.; 2010
