Neuroleptic is a special drug that is used for various mental disorders. As a rule, such drugs are used to treat neurotic syndromes, psychoses, and medication can also be used for hallucinations. In addition, antipsychotic drugs are prescribed to prevent the main manifestations of human mental illness.
The main effects of the drugs in question
The effects of antipsychotics are multifaceted. The main pharmacological feature is a kind of calming effect, which is characterized by a decrease in reaction to external stimuli, a weakening of affective tension and psychomotor agitation, a suppression of feelings of fear, and a decrease in aggressiveness. Antipsychotic drugs can suppress hallucinations, delusions and other psychopathological symptoms, have a therapeutic effect in patients with schizophrenia and other psychosomatic ailments.
Certain drugs in this group have antiemetic activity, this effect of antipsychotics is achieved due to selective inhibition of chemoreceptor trigger (trigger) areas of the medulla oblongata. Some antipsychotics can have a sedative or activating (energizing) effect. A number of these funds are characterized by elements of normotimic and antidepressant effects.
The pharmacological property of various antipsychotic drugs is expressed to varying degrees. The combination of the main antipsychotic effect and other properties determines the profile of their effects and indications for use.
How do antipsychotics work?
Antipsychotics are drugs that inhibit the reticular formation of the brain. The effect of these drugs is also associated with the effect on the occurrence and conduct of excitation in various parts of the central and peripheral nervous system. Today, the most studied effect of antipsychotics, as the effect on mediator processes in the brain. Scientists have accumulated enough data on the effects of these drugs on adrenergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic, GABAergic and other neurotransmitter processes, which include the effect on the neuropeptide systems of the brain. Especially a lot of attention has recently been paid to the process of interaction of dopamine brain structures and antipsychotics. When dopamine mediator activity is inhibited, the main side effect of these drugs is manifested, the so-called antipsychotic syndrome develops, which is characterized by extrapyramidal disorders, such as involuntary muscle contraction, akathisia (restlessness), parkinsonism (tremor, muscle stiffness), motor anxiety, fever . This effect is achieved due to the blocking effect of antipsychotics on the subcortical formations of the brain, where a large number of receptors that are sensitive to dopamine are localized.
The manifested side effects of antipsychotics are an occasion for treatment correction and the appointment of special correctors (Akineton and Cyclodol preparations).
Pharmacodynamics
Neuroleptic is a drug that, acting on the central dopamine receptors, provokes some endocrine disorders, including the stimulation of lactation under their influence. When neuroleptics block dopamine pituitary receptors, prolactin secretion is enhanced. By acting on the hypothalamus, these drugs inhibit the secretion of growth hormone and corticotropin.
Antipsychotics - drugs that have a relatively short half-life in the body and after a single injection, they have a short effect. Scientists have created special drugs with a longer action ("Moditen-Depot", "Geloperidol Decanoate", "Piportil L4", "Clopixol-Depot"). Often antipsychotics are combined with each other: in the first half of the day they take a stimulating drug, in the second - sedative. In order to stop the affective-delusional syndrome, it is recommended to take antidepressants and antipsychotics in a complex.
Indications for use
Reception of antipsychotics is prescribed, first of all, for the treatment of nosogenic paranoid reactions (sensitive reactions) and in chronic somatoform pain disorder.
Rules for the appointment of these drugs
Treatment with antipsychotics begins with the appointment of an average therapeutic dose, then evaluate the effect and decide on the need to change the dose. The dosage of antipsychotics is rapidly increased to a certain value, which is subsequently gradually reduced by 3-5 times, and the therapy becomes antirecurrent, supportive in nature. The prescribed amount of the drug is changed strictly individually. The maintenance dose is transferred after the desired therapeutic effect has been achieved. It is more advisable to conduct anti-relapse therapy with drugs that have a prolonged effect. The method of administration of psychotropic drugs is of great importance. At the initial stage of treatment, parenteral administration is recommended, in which the relief of symptoms occurs faster (intravenous jet, intravenous drip, intramuscular). It is further preferable to take antipsychotics orally. A list of the most effective drugs will be given below.
The drug "Propazin"
This tool has sedative effects, reduces anxiety and motor activity. The medication is used for borderline disorders in patients with somatic pathology, if there are anxiety, phobic disorders, obsession. Take the medicine inside 2-3 times a day for 25 mg, if necessary - the dose can be increased to 100-150 mg per day. When using small doses of the development of manifestations of parkinsonism, as a rule, is not observed.
The drug "Etaperazin"
The medication has an antipsychotic activating effect and acts on syndromes that are characterized by lethargy, lethargy, and apathy. In addition, the drug "Etaperazin" is used to treat neurosis, accompanied by tension, fear, anxiety. The daily dose of the drug is 20 mg.
Means "Triftazinum"
The drug has a noticeable anti-delusional effect, relieves hallucinatory disorders. The medication has a moderate stimulating (energizing) effect. It can be used in the treatment of atypical depressive states with the phenomenon of obsession. For the treatment of somatoform disorders, the drug “Triftazin” is combined with antidepressants and tranquilizers. The dosage of the drug is 20-25 mg per day.
The drug "Teralen"
The medication has antihistamine and antipsychotic activity. The drug "Teralen" is a mild sedative and has a positive effect with synestopathic-hypochondria signs of the border register, with psychosomatic symptoms that develop against the background of infectious, somatogenic, vascular manifestations, and neuro-vegetative pathologies. Widely used in gerontological practice and pediatrics. It is recommended for use with allergic ailments and with itchy skin. The drug is taken orally at 10-40 mg per day, intramuscularly used in the form of a 0.5% solution.
Means "Tiridazine"
The drug has an antipsychotic effect with a calming effect, without causing inhibition and lethargy. Also, the medication has a moderate timoleptic effect. The medicine shows the greatest effectiveness in emotional disorders, which are characterized by tension, fear, agitation. In the treatment of borderline conditions, 40-100 mg of the drug are used per day. With such phenomena as neurasthenia, increased irritability, anxiety, neurogenic functional gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders, take the medicine 2-3 times a day for 5-10-25 mg. With premenstrual nervous disorder - 1-2 times a day, 25 mg each.
The drug "Chlorprotixen"
The drug has an antipsychotic and sedative effect, enhances the effect of sleeping pills. A medication is used for psychoneurotic conditions characterized by fears, anxieties. The use of the drug is indicated for neuroses, including against a background of a variety of somatic ailments, with sleep disturbance, skin itching, and subdepressive conditions. The dose is 5-10-15 mg, take the medicine after meals, 3-4 times a day.
The drug "Fluanxol"
This tool has an antidepressant, activating, anxiolytic effect. In the treatment of depressive, apathetic conditions, they take 0.5-3 mg of the drug per day. For the treatment of psychosomatic disorders with subdepression, asthenia, hypochondria, the daily dose is 3 mg. The drug "Fluanxol" does not cause daytime drowsiness and does not affect attention.
Means "Eglonil"
The drug has a regulatory effect on the central nervous system, has moderate antipsychotic activity, which is combined with some stimulating and antidepressant effects. It is used in conditions characterized by lethargy, lethargy, and anergy. It is used in patients with somatoform, somatized disorders against a background of subdepressive mood and with skin ailments accompanied by itching. This medication is especially indicated for use in patients who have a latent form of depression, senestopathic disorders. It is also recommended to use the drug Eglonil for depression with a pronounced cephalgic syndrome, in the presence of sensations such as dizziness and migraine. The tool also has a cytoprotective effect on the gastric mucosa, which is why it is used to treat conditions such as gastritis, peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease. The recommended dose of the drug is 50-100 mg per day, the daily dose, if necessary, can be increased to 150-200 mg. The medication can be taken in combination with sedative antidepressants.
Side effect of antipsychotics
Like any other medication, antipsychotics have negative aspects, reviews of those who used such drugs indicate a possible development of undesirable effects. Long-term or improper use of these drugs can provoke the following phenomena:
All movements are accelerated, a person moves for no reason in different directions, usually at high speed. You can get rid of obsessive thoughts, calm down, and find a comfortable position only after taking psychotropic drugs.
There is a constant movement of the eyeballs, muscles of the face and various parts of the body, grimacing.
Due to damage to the muscles of the face, its features change. A “skewed” face may never return to its normal state, remain with a person for the rest of his life.
Due to intensive therapy with antipsychotics and suppression of the nervous system, severe depression develops, which significantly affects the effectiveness of treatment.
An antipsychotic is a drug that has a direct effect on the gastrointestinal tract, so during treatment with this medication you may feel discomfort in the stomach, dry mouth.
Such substances that are part of antipsychotics, such as thioxanthene and phenothiazine, negatively affect human vision.
Atypical antipsychotics
Such drugs have a greater effect on serotonin receptors than on dopamine. Therefore, their anti-anxiety and calming effect is more pronounced than antipsychotic. Unlike typical antipsychotics, they less affect brain function.
Consider the main atypical antipsychotics.
Medication "Sulpiride"
This drug is used to treat conditions such as somatic mental disorders, hypochondria, senestopathic syndromes. The medication has an activating effect.
The drug "Solian"
The effect of this tool is similar to the previous drug. It is used in conditions with hypobulia, apathetic manifestations, with the goal of stopping hallucinatory-delusional disorders.
Clozapine
The drug has a pronounced sedative effect, but does not cause depression. Use a medication in the treatment of catatonic and hallucinatory delusional syndromes.
Means "Olanzalin"
The drug is used for psychotic disorders and catatonic syndrome. With prolonged use of this medication, obesity may develop.
The drug "Risperidone"
This atypical agent is used most widely. The drug has an elective effect in relation to hallucinatory-delusional symptoms, catatonic symptoms, obsessive conditions.
Means of Risolept-Consta
This is a medication of prolonged action, which ensures the stabilization of patients' well-being. Also, the tool shows high efficiency against acute hallucinatory-paranoid syndromes of endogenous origin.
Medication "Quetiapine"
This drug, like other atypical antipsychotics, affects both dopamine and seratonin receptors. It is used for paranoid, hallucinatory syndromes, manic agitation. The medication has an antidepressant and moderate stimulating effect.
The drug "Ziprasidone"
The drug has an effect on dopamine D-2 receptors, 5-HT-2 receptors, and also blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. This leads to its effectiveness in the treatment of acute hallucinatory-delusional, as well as affective disorders. The use of the drug is contraindicated in case of arrhythmia and the presence of pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
Means "Aripiprazole"
The medicine is used for all types of psychotic disorders. The drug helps to restore cognitive function in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Means "Sertindol"
A medication is used for sluggish-apathic conditions, the drug improves cognitive functions, has antidepressant activity. With caution, the drug "Certindol" is used for cardiovascular pathologies - it can provoke arrhythmia.
The drug "Invega"
The medicine prevents exacerbation of catatonic, hallucinatory-delusional, psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
Side effect of atypical antipsychotics
The action of such drugs as “Clozapine”, “Olanzapine”, “Risperidone”, “Ariprazole” is accompanied by the phenomenon of neurolepsy and significant changes in the endocrine system, which can cause weight gain, the development of bulimia, increased levels of certain hormones (prolactin). When treated with Clozapine, epileptic seizures and agranulocytosis may occur. Taking Quetiapine often causes drowsiness, headaches, an increase in hepatic transaminases, and an increase in body weight.
It is worth noting that today, scientists have accumulated enough information indicating that the superiority of atypical antipsychotics over typical is not so significant. And their reception is prescribed when, when using typical antipsychotics, a significant improvement in the patient's condition is not observed.
Neuroleptic withdrawal syndrome
Like any other medication with psychoactive properties, antipsychotic drugs cause a strong psychological and physical dependence. Abrupt withdrawal of the drug can provoke the development of severe aggression, depression. A person becomes too impatient, tearful. There may also be signs of a disease for the treatment of which antipsychotics have been used.
From a physiological point of view, the manifestations of the withdrawal of antipsychotics are similar to those of the withdrawal of drugs: a person is tormented by pain in the bones, he suffers from headaches and insomnia. Nausea, diarrhea, and other intestinal disorders may develop.
Psychological dependence does not allow a person to abandon the use of these funds, because he is tormented by the fear of returning to a dark, depressing life.
How to stop taking antipsychotics without disturbing normal health? First of all, you should know that using antipsychotics without a doctor’s prescription is contraindicated.Only an experienced specialist is able to adequately assess the patient's condition and prescribe the necessary treatment. Also, the doctor will give recommendations on reducing the dose of medication consumed. The dosage of the drug should be reduced gradually, without causing a strong feeling of discomfort. Next, the specialist prescribes antidepressants that will support the patient’s emotional state and will prevent the development of depression.
Neuroleptic is a medication that allows you to normalize a person’s mental state. However, in order to avoid the development of side effects, be sure to follow the doctor's recommendations and do not self-medicate. Be healthy!