The Treatment of Schizophrenia Using Drug Therapy - Essay Example

Schizophrenia Number Since Schizophrenia may not just be a single condition and its causes are still unknown, the existing treatment techniques are founded on both clinical and research experience. These advances are selected on the foundations of their capacity to lower the symptoms of Schizophrenia and to reduce the chances of the symptoms coming back. In this paper, the treatment of Schizophrenia using drug therapy is explored. It comprises of the drugs applied in the treatment and their side effects. Introduction A revolution in the management of Schizophrenia started about a half a century ago when chlorpromazine was introduced in 1952. This was the first time that psychiatric specialist had a drug that was effective in the suppression of delusions and hallucinations of acute Schizophrenia (Buckley & Waddington, 2000). These drugs are today being supplanted by another second generation of antipsychotic drugs. However, the up coming drugs are just a little more effective than the previous ones. The deep and more pervasive issues of Schizophrenia patients such as their negative symptoms like apathy, emotional unresponsiveness, social withdrawal, and difficulties with memory and attention, have been largely with no solution using pharmacological means (Glick et al., 2008). There has been an agreement by the professionals on the treatment of Schizophrenia, even though it is not faultless and their proposals are not commands but guidelines. Discussion Drugs For those patients going through a psychotic episode, the initial choice is normally one of these drugs, all of which were introduced in 1990 and known as second generation or novel or atypical drugs: olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, or aripiprazole. Some specialists have the believe that all these drugs are equally effective and they ought to be chsen depending on their side effects, whereas other believe olanzaphine or risperidone are more effective (Buckley & Waddington, 2000). A sixth second generation drug, Clozaphine, is taken into consideration in case the patient does not react to two other medicines. One out of the numerous dozen earlier drugs, like thiroridazine, haloperidol or chlorpromazine may be applied in case of failure of the second generation drugs. Giving over one antipsychotic drug is not advisable (Buckley & Waddington, 2000). In case of a positive response, the medication ought to go on for at least six months. In case the patient is does not show psychotic symptoms for one year, the drugs may be withdrawn gradually, as the patient and his family are instructed on the early signs of relapse. Following two relapses in a time of five years, most specialists recommend that medication should go on indefinitely. (Glick et al., 2008). There also other drugs that are applied in addition to antipsychotic, mostly antidepressants like the fluxetine, sertraline, for the obsessive-neurotic symptoms, also mood stabilizers for violence and regression. For anxiety, agitation, and insomnia, benzodiazepine is recommended by some psychiatrists. Anticonvulsants are also applied in the treatment of hallucinations plus delusions that antipsychotic drugs do not affect (Stinnett, 2004). Side effects There are some side effects that can happen with the use of most drugs. One of them is drowsiness and tiredness that is as a result of use of antipsychotic drugs, but mostly by clozapine. There is also the anticholinergic effect, like having a dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and urine retention caused by clozapine, thioridazine and chlorpromazine. Postural hypertention can also occur, which is caused by majority of antipsychotic drugs, but mostly caused by clozapine and some first generation drugs with low-potency. There is one group of side effects which is generated mostly by the first generation drugs but rarely by the second generation drugs. These side effects are the movement disorders. There is also a number of another of side effects that are frequent to the majority antipsychotic drugs but mostly troublesome for those patients who take olanzapine, or clozapine to a little extent, risperidone and quetiapine. They comprise of increase in weight, cholestral abnormalities and a likely raised danger of diabetes. The danger of diabetes is not certain. In one study, it was established that in 1940s, prior to the beginning of antipsychotic drugs, the schizophrenic patients had an elavated rate of diabetes than today. However, some patients who are under second-generation medicines have acquired diabetes at an age that is not normal (J, S & B, 2004). There are those antipsychotic drugs like ziprasidone and aripiprazole that do not appear to result into weight increase and they may not amplify the risk of diabetes. However, the FDA is being careful. In year 2003, it heeded warnings in the advertising and tags for the entire second-generation drugs. During 2004, a number of professional organizations such as the American Diabetes Association also the American Psychiatrist Association gave an official statement that encouraged doctors to take note of the cholesterol level, weight, as well as the level of blood sugar of Schizophrenia patients prior to prescribing any antipsychotic drug to look out for the signs of resistance of insulin or diabetes. This statement recommended that physicians take consideration of changing drugs following an increase in weight of above 5 percent (Taylor & Pharmaceutical Press. 2006). Clozapine appears to be exclusive in both its advantages and disadvantages. It has several side effects like weight gain, drowsiness, decreased threshold for seizure and anti-cholinergic effects. It can also lead to strong withdraw response, which may comprise a rebound psychosis. The most serious effect of clozapine is agranulocytosis, which is a sudden decrease in count of white blood cells. This is rare but also fatal, thus patient ought to undergo bloods tests often. Owing to all this reasons, clozapine is not always the first choice when treating schizophrenia. However, it seems to be effective on some patients who are resistant to other drugs (Glick et al., 2008). Conclusion There are many new drugs that are now being used in the treatment of Schizophrenia. Even though they have side effects on the patients most of them have been proved effective. Patients should take medication without stopping until advised so by the physician.Often there is a relapse with schizophrenic patients who stop the medications or do not take drugs consistently. This is because they might get the side effects, may have a poor concept of the sickness, or they may have a doubt of their psychotherapist. It is vital that patients fully appreciate the risks that are linked with drug therapy and they ought to report any side effect immediately. They also should know the importance of medication even if they feel better temporarily with out taking it (Glick et al., 2008). References Buckley, P., & Waddington, J. L. (2000). Schizophrenia and mood disorders: The new drug therapies in clinical practice. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Stinnett, K. (2004). Treating the mentally ill. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. Taylor, D., & Pharmaceutical Press. (2006). Schizophrenia in focus. London: Pharmaceutical Press. J, A., S, P., & B, H. (2004). Drug Therapy in Schizophrenia. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 10, 18, 2205-2217. Glick, I. D., Siris, S. G., & Davis, J. M. (2008). Treating schizophrenia with comorbid depressive or demoralization symptoms. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 69, 3.) Read More