Running head: ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION Antipsychotic Medication Name Institution 1 ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION 2 Antipsychotic Medication Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat disorders such as bipolar. They control psychotic symptoms such as delusions, mania, and hallucinations. During severe depression, physicians can administer antipsychotic medication to improve the control the symptoms. Bipolar is a mental disorder associated with extreme mood swings. In people suffering from bipolar, antipsychotics act as sedatives for agitation, insomnia, and anxiety. Antipsychotics are taken with other mood-stabilizing drugs to reduce the symptoms associated with Bipolar. Also, these drugs regulate the functioning of the brain by controlling mood, perception, and thinking. Patients need to follow prescription more carefully to minimize the risk of side effects. Some antipsychotic drugs cause high cholesterol levels and significant weight gain, thus increasing the risk of diabetes. It is important for patients to start with a low dose to minimize the risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Also, certain antipsychotic drugs such as Clozaril affect the blood. Doctors should perform both physical exams and diagnostic tests before offering the therapy to the patients. Antipsychotics may worsen the health condition of a patient with negative symptoms. Thus, it is essential for patients to undergo screening before taking antipsychotic medication. Debates on the effectiveness of conventional and atypical antipsychotic have lasted for decades. Both drugs are effective in reducing the dopamine amount at the synaptic levels. Atypical antipsychotics are more effective than conventional drugs since they act on multiple receptor sites. A study conducted by Wang et al. (2005) showed that conventional antipsychotic increased mortality rate among elderly users. Atypical antipsychotics reduce negative symptoms and are more beneficial than conventional drugs in treating cognitive dysfunction. The cost of atypical antipsychotics is about ten times that of conventional drugs. Wang et al. (2005) revealed ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION that convention drugs increased the mortality rate among the elderly. It means that atypical antipsychotics are more effective than conventional drugs. Therefore, the price of atypical psychotic is higher than that of old medication. 3 ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION 4 References Wang, P. S., Schneeweiss, S., Avorn, J., Fischer, M. A., Mogun, H., Solomon, D. H., & Brookhart, M. A. (2005). Risk of death in elderly users of conventional vs. atypical antipsychotic medications. New England Journal of Medicine, 353(22), 2335-2341.
