4.4.5 Antipsychotics
Description
This article is from the Bipolar Disorder FAQ, by barry@webveranda.com (Barry Campbell) with numerous contributions by others.
4.4.5 Antipsychotics
Also called "neuroleptics" or "major tranquilizers," these drugs have
several uses in bipolar patients. One main use is to calm people down
in acute mania, while waiting for a mood stabilizer to work. These
drugs are also used (in low doses) as sleeping pills or to combat
anxiety, and in higher doses for psychotic symptoms such as
hallucinations, delusions, etc. They are also used in combination
with a mood stabilizer as part of the maintenance medications used to
prevent further episodes.
The major antipsychotics are: Thorazine (chlorpromazine) , Mellaril
(thioridazine), Stelazine, Haldol (haloperidol), Risperdal
(risperidone), Clozaril (clopazine), Trilafon (perphenezine)
Side effects are similar for all of these although some drugs
(Mellaril, Thorazine) are relatively mild in their side-effects while
others (Haldol) have severe side-effects for many people.
The main side effects are: sleepiness, slowed speech and thinking,
difficulty walking or with balance, restlessness, twitching,
involuntary movements, confusion, stiffness
If the twitching/involuntary movement/stiffness becomes severe, this
can sometimes be relieved with an antiparkinsonian drug such as Cogentin.
The major risk with these drugs is a condition called tardive
dyskinesia--where the twitching or stiffness remains after the
drug is discontinued. It is quite rare at low doses and when the
drugs are not used for very long.
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