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Antipsychotics are drugs that are mainly intended to treat people with psychotic symptoms. They are also called 'neuroleptics' and sometimes they are called 'major tranquilisers'.
Some of them come as tablets that are taken by mouth. People who take tablets usually have to take them once or twice a day. Some antipsychotic drugs are given as injections into the muscles of the thigh or arm. The effects of the injections last for a few weeks, and so they are usually given once every two to four weeks. They are sometimes known as 'depot' injections because the drug in the injection is released slowly into the body. Here is a list of some of the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic drugs.
Tablets:
| Generic Drug name | Trade name |
| Olanzapine | Zyprexa |
| Risperidone | Risperdal |
| Quetiapine | Seroquel |
| Aripiprazole | Abilify |
| Chlorpromazine | Largactil |
| Haloperidol | Serenace/Haldol |
| Trifluoperazine | Stelazine |
| Clozapine | Clozaril |
| Sulpiride | Dolmatil |
| Amisulpiride | Solian |
| Zuclopenthixol tablets | Clopixol |
Injections:
| Generic drug name | Trade name |
| Zuclopenthixol decanoate | Clopixol |
| Flupentixol decanoate | Depixol |
| Risperidone | Risperdal Consta |
| Fluphenazine decanoate | Modecate |
| Pipotiazine Palmitate | Piportil |
| Haloperidol decanoate | Haldol |
| Xeplion |
They are also sometimes prescribed to people with other mental health problems like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and dementia.
Antipsychotics can reduce psychotic symptoms, and there is evidence that if you carry on taking them after you recover from your psychotic symptoms, they can help prevent you from getting ill again. They do have a number of side effects. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Weight gain
- Drowsiness
- Poor concentration
- Muscle stiffness and slowness
- Agitation and restlessness (sometimes called akathisia)
- Suppression of feelings
- Sexual side effects (loss of desire, impotence)
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
Sometimes other or additional medication can be given to reduce some of the side effects.
If you would like more information about antipsychotic drugs, please click on the following links:
- Only the Best Medicine (pdf file) by Rethink.
- Making sense of antipsychotics by MIND.
- Choice & Medicine by NHS.
- Antipsychotic Medication by Royal College of Psychiatrists.