List Of Antipsychotic Medications That Are Highly Beneficial!

With the advancement of every domain the field of psychiatry has also evolved significantly over the years.  One of the most critical and renowned areas of development has been the introduction and persistent improvement of antipsychotic medications over time. So what is the purpose of Antipsychotics? They are primarily used to manage psychosis, including delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, or disordered thought commonly referred to as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. With growing concerns for mental health, these medications are increasingly being used for conditions like depression and dementia too. Keeping these in mind we have prepared a comprehensive list of antipsychotic medications that are further categorized into First Generation Antipsychotics (FGAs) or Typical Antipsychotics followed by Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGAs) or Atypical Antipsychotics.

What Do First Generation(FGAs) & Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGAs) Include?

FGAs primarily work with the mechanism by blocking the D2 dopamine receptors in the brain. Thus it helps reduce hallucinations and delusions effectively. The most common FGAs that can be helpful to you include:

• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

This medication is primarily used for treating manic episodes, schizophrenia, nausea .vomiting, and also persistent hiccups.

• Haloperidol (Haldol)

A very popular and common option for the treatment of schizophrenia, Tourette’s syndrome and many other severe behaviour problems that are seen in children.

• Thioridazine (Mellaril)

Another effective medication for the treatment of schizophrenia and the symptoms associated with it like hallucinations, delusions, and hostility.

• Fluphenazine (Prolixin) &Perphenazine (Trilafon)

These antipsychotic medications are prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia too. They are very effective and primarily work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, thus helping to reduce hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms of psychosis. They belong to part of a class of medications called phenothiazines.

Next, we have SGAs which have a broader action mechanism, affecting both dopamine receptors and serotonin receptors in the brain. The primary medications that fall under  SGAs are:

How To Reduce Anxiety Naturally? | 7 Effective Tips|

• Aripiprazole (Abilify)

This popular medication is prescribed for treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and Tourette’s syndrome. It belongs to the class of atypical antipsychotics and functions by modulating certain neurotransmitters in the brain that helps regulates your mood, thoughts, and behaviour in these conditions.

• Clozapine (Clozaril)

This medication is primarily prescribed for individuals who face treatment-resistant schizophrenia. It works effectively in managing symptoms like hallucinations and delusions that gets failed to be controlled by other antipsychotics. This medication stays reserved for patients who have not positively responded to other treatments due to the potential side effects.

• Lurasidone (Latuda)

This too is used to heal schizophrenia and bipolar depression. It alleviates symptoms by targeting certain brain chemicals. It effectively manages the symptoms associated with these mental health conditions.

• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)

This medication is used to treat schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. Thus helping to balance certain chemicals in the brain, reducing symptoms such as hallucinations, mood swings, and disordered thinking.

• Quetiapine (Seroquel)

Another common medication used for treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorders.  Its working mechanism works by regulating brain chemicals to reduce symptoms such as hallucinations, mood swings, and depressive episodes.

• Risperidone (Risperdal)

Lastly, we have Risperdal used for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism-related irritability. It works to manage symptoms by affecting certain chemicals in the brain, improving mood, thinking, and behaviour in individuals with these conditions.

Having stated this list of antipsychotic medications. whether typical or atypical you must remember they can have significant side effects and potential for interaction with other drugs. So you should make sure to take it under the supervision of a medical professional. The clinical response to antipsychotics varies widely, and the choice of an antipsychotic for a particular patient is based on the symptom profile, previous response to antipsychotics, patient preference, medical comorbidity, potential side effects, and potential drug interactions so it is better to consult a health care professional for this and not analyse it on your own. 

It is high time to consider mental health as crucial as physical health. Understanding your medication is a step toward better mental health. You must never attempt to self-medicate with these drugs due to their potential side effects and the necessity of ongoing monitoring while on these medications. Common side effects might include sedation, weight gain, and metabolic changes. 

More severe side effects like movement disorders (extrapyramidal symptoms), agranulocytosis (a severe decrease in a specific type of white blood cell), and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) are also possible but tend to be rare.

If you or a loved one are prescribed an antipsychotic medication try and communicate with your healthcare provider to understand the potential benefits and risks. The use of antipsychotic medication is typically part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes psychotherapy, social support, and lifestyle modifications. The ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and empower them to live fulfilling and productive lives.