How do neuroleptics work in humans? Neuroleptic - what is it? What is the mechanism of action of antipsychotics? Radar classification: names of antipsychotics

Many of those who, for health reasons, had to cross the threshold of a psychiatric office leave it holding in their hands several prescriptions for intricate drugs. The need to take psychotropic medications is often scary. Fears of side effects, addiction, or changes in one’s personality - all this introduces a seed of doubt and mistrust in medical recommendations. As sad as it may be, sometimes the main healers become numerous friends, relatives and neighbors on the landing, and not a certified specialist.

One of the groups of drugs widely used in psychiatry are antipsychotics. If you have been prescribed antipsychotics, get ready to hear a lot of cliched phrases about their “capabilities”. The most typical are:

neuroleptics turn a person into a “vegetable”;
psychotropic drugs “stifle the psyche”;
psychotropic drugs destroy personality;
they cause dementia;
Because of the antipsychotics, you will die in a mental hospital.

The reason for the emergence of such myths is speculation due to a lack of reliable information or the inability to understand it correctly. At all times of the existence of “homo sapiens,” any incomprehensible phenomena were explained by myths and fables. Remember how our distant ancestors explained the change of day and night, eclipses.

In any case, do not rush to panic! Try to approach the problem of antipsychotics from the point of view of evidence-based medicine.

More about neuroleptics

What are neuroleptics?

Neuroleptics are a large group of drugs used in the treatment of mental disorders. The greatest value of these drugs is their ability to fight psychosis, hence the second name - antipsychotics. Before the advent of neuroleptics, poisonous and narcotic plants, lithium, bromine, and coma therapy were widely used in psychiatry. The discovery of Aminazine in 1950 marked the beginning of a new stage in the development of all psychiatry. Treatment methods for psychiatric patients have become much gentler, and cases of long-term remissions have become more frequent.

Classification of antipsychotics

All antipsychotics are usually classified into two groups:

Typical neuroleptics. Classical antipsychotic drugs. Despite the high therapeutic potential, they have a fairly high probability of developing side effects. Representatives: Aminazin, Haloperidol, etc.
Atypical neuroleptics. Modern drugs, the distinctive ability of which is a significantly reduced likelihood of developing and severity of side effects, primarily neurological. These include: Clozapine, Rispolept, Quetiapine, Olanzapine.

Almost every year new antipsychotics appear on the pharmacological market. Drugs are becoming more effective, safer and more expensive.

How do antipsychotics work?

The mechanism of action of antipsychotics is to reduce the speed of transmission of brain impulses. This is achieved by inhibiting a substance that transmits nerve impulses in some of the brain cells, called dopamine. Most antipsychotics are quickly broken down and eliminated from the body. Exist long-acting drugs, capable of providing a therapeutic effect lasting up to a month. For example, Haloperidol decanoate or Clopixol depot, a solution of which is administered intramuscularly. The use of long-acting medications is very convenient, because patients often forget to follow the recommendations and take pills. Unfortunately, almost all existing drugs of this type are typical antipsychotics, which means they are inferior in safety to many atypical antipsychotics.

Indications for the use of neuroleptics

When can a doctor recommend taking antipsychotics? Not all mental disorders require the use of antipsychotics. Considering their exceptional ability to affect delusions, hallucinations, agitation and abnormal behavior, this group of drugs is indispensable in the treatment of psychoses of various origins. The ability of antipsychotics to relieve symptoms of fear, anxiety and agitation allows them to be used quite effectively in anxiety, phobic and depressive disorders. In some cases, antipsychotics can replace tranquilizers, long-term use of which is unacceptable.

Antipsychotics are designed to combat the following symptoms:

psychomotor agitation;
aggressive and dangerous behavior;
delusions and hallucinations;
pronounced feeling of fear;
tension in the body;
mood swings;
apathy and lethargy with;
poor sleep;
vomit.

As you can see, the possible range of use of antipsychotics is quite wide, and is not limited exclusively to severe mental disorders.

Side effects of antipsychotics

All medications, to one degree or another, in addition to their therapeutic effects, have a number of undesirable side effects. There is an opinion that herbal preparations are completely safe. This is not entirely true. Thus, long-term use of lemon balm also causes dizziness, and excessive use of chamomile decoctions causes. Even a single overdose of celandine in some cases ends in toxic hepatitis.

The likelihood of side effects and their severity depends on many factors:

individual sensitivity to the drug;
the dose used and duration of treatment;
method of administration of the drug and its interaction with other drugs;
the patient's age and general health.

The main side effects of antipsychotics include:

Neuroleptic syndrome. The cause of its appearance is extrapyramidal disorders. Muscle tone increases, movements become slow and constrained, and slurred speech is possible. Patients may be bothered by restlessness in place. If a patient develops neuroleptic syndrome, the doctor will prescribe correctors - drugs that remove the symptoms of neurolepsy.
Endocrine disorders. Occurs with long-term use of large doses of antipsychotics.
Drowsiness. Typical antipsychotics are more effective. Often drowsiness goes away 3-4 days after starting treatment with antipsychotics.
Changes in appetite and body weight. Many patients, especially women, are most afraid of weight gain. It should be understood that the mere presence of a mental disorder does not predispose one to an ideal figure. Depression, for example, in many cases significantly changes body weight, either down or up, which is mistakenly attributed to the effects of medications.

Less common side effects include: temporary disturbances of the visual organs, digestive organs (diarrhea, constipation), difficulty urinating and autonomic disorders.

What does a patient taking antipsychotics need to know?

At the very beginning of a course of treatment with antipsychotics, patients may be faced not only with the manifestation of their side effects, but also with the obligation to comply with the rules for taking the drugs. The first weeks will be difficult for both the patient and the doctor. After all, you have to choose the right drug and a sufficient dose. Only mutual trust, responsibility and an impeccable desire for results will allow a successful course of treatment with antipsychotics. The patient must cooperate in every possible way with the treatment, follow the recommendations and report any changes in his condition.

Some simple tips for those taking antipsychotics:

Follow the indicated dosage and frequency of taking the medications. Trying to adjust the dose on your own will only worsen the condition.
Avoid alcoholic drinks, even beer. Neuroleptics interact extremely poorly with alcohol; taking them together can cause an exacerbation of the disease.
Since antipsychotics slow down the reaction rate, you will have to wait a while with driving and other mechanisms.
Eat well. Eat foods rich in vitamins and protein.
Drink enough fluids. It is not advisable to drink strong tea and coffee.
Be sure to do morning exercises. Even minimal physical activity will be beneficial.
Discuss all questions about treatment with your doctor, not with grandmothers at the entrance.

The correct use of antipsychotics can cope with many of the unpleasant consequences of mental disorders, improve the quality of life and give a chance for recovery. Regularly emerging modern drugs minimize the development of side effects, allowing for safe treatment for a long time. Don't be afraid to take antipsychotics and stay healthy!

Neuroleptic is a psychotropic drug prescribed for psychotic, neurological and psychological disorders of varying severity.

They successfully cope with attacks of schizophrenia, mental retardation and senile dementia due to the action of the following chemical compounds: phenothiazine, butyrophenone and diphenylbutylpiperidine.

What kind of drugs are these?

Before chemically synthesized drugs were invented, drugs with plant components - belladonna, henbane, opiates, narcotic sleep, bromides or lithium salts - were used to treat mental illnesses.

Already in 1950, the first antipsychotic (aminazine) began to be actively used.

First generation antipsychotics appeared 8 years after aminazine - the alkaloid reserpine, triftazine and. They did not have the desired effect, causing neurological disorders and side effects (depression, apathy, etc.).

Until 1967, neuroleptics were called "" - they also had a pronounced sedative effect, but there is still a difference between them. The main difference between neuroleptics and tranquilizers is that the latter cannot influence psychotic reactions (hallucinations, delusions), providing only a sedative effect.

Neuroleptics relieve emotional stress, enhance the effect of painkillers, and have an antipsychotic, cognitive and psychosedative effect on the body.

They are prescribed to relieve symptoms of pathology such as:

, aggression and agitation
psychomotor agitation
, vomiting and hiccups
hallucinations, speech delirium

The mechanism of action of antipsychotics is to suppress nerve impulses in those systems (limbic, mesocortical) of the human brain that are responsible for the production of dopamine and serotonin.

Mechanism of action of antipsychotics

They have a short half-life and are well absorbed by any route of administration, but the period of influence on the nervous system is short - therefore they are prescribed in combination to stimulate each other.

Neuroleptics, penetrating the BBB between the central nervous and circulatory systems, accumulate in the liver, where complete breakdown of the drugs occurs, and are then excreted through the intestines and genitourinary system. The half-life of antipsychotics ranges from 18 to 40 hours, and even 70 hours in the case of.

For serious illnesses, long-acting antipsychotics are prescribed, which are administered intravenously and have a therapeutic effect for about 3 weeks.

Indications for use

All types of antipsychotics are aimed at eliminating productive, depressive and deficit symptoms in the following mental illnesses:

(dementia)
desocialization
neurological (), dissociative disorders ()
hysteroneurotic

The drug is administered using injections, droppers or tablets at the request of the patient. The doctor regulates the medication, starting with an increased dosage and gradually reducing it. After completion of therapy, an anti-relapse course of long-acting tablets is recommended.

The use of neuroleptics also has a number of contraindications, namely pregnancy and breastfeeding, age under 18 years, individual intolerance to the components in the composition, as well as some chronic diseases.

Classification

In the second half of the 20th century, psychotropic drugs were classified into typical (old generation) and atypical (new generation) antipsychotics, which in turn are differentiated:

according to the main active substance and their derivatives in their chemical composition:

thioxanthene (Chlorprothixene, Zuclopenthixol)
phenothiazine (Chlopromazine, Periciazine)
benzodiazepine (, Tiapride)
barbiturate (Barbital, Butizol)
indole (Dicarbine, Reserpine)

according to clinical impact:

sedatives
stimulating
incisive

The most common drugs among typical antipsychotics are:

Fluphenazine
Thioproperazine

The most common drugs among atypical antipsychotics:

Clopazine
Olanzapine
Risperidone
Ziprasidone
Amisulpride

They can also be classified according to duration of action and availability - some are issued strictly according to a prescription, others are on sale in any pharmacy in the city.

Side effects

The greater the dosage and course of antipsychotic therapy, the higher the likelihood of unpleasant consequences for the body.

Side effects of antipsychotics are also associated with age factor, health status and interactions with other drugs .

They can cause:

disruption of the endocrine system (prolacthymenia, amenorrhea, erectile dysfunction)
disorders of the central nervous system (akatasia, muscular dystonia, parkinsonism)
neuroleptic syndrome (inhibition of actions, slurred speech, oculogyric crisis, in which the head is thrown back and the eyes roll back)
loss of appetite, drowsiness, weight loss or gain

In 10% of cases, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and genitourinary systems occur, and akathisia caused by antipsychotics occurs in 26%. But the main thing that makes them dangerous for humans is “ withdrawal syndrome caused by abrupt cessation of antipsychotic medication. The patient becomes so accustomed to the daily dose of medication that, without receiving it again, he falls into a state of depression or constant discomfort. “Withdrawal syndrome” has several varieties and can lead to psychosis and tardive dyskinesia.

Some patients, not waiting for improvements after treatment, the effect of which does not occur immediately, try to cope with the help of alcoholic beverages. But combining antipsychotics and alcohol is strictly prohibited, since when interacting they can cause poisoning and even a stroke.

New generation neuroleptics without side effects

Thanks to the active development of researchers, the list of antipsychotics is annually replenished with a new generation of antipsychotics, which can now be differentiated according to the duration and severity of the clinical effect, mechanism of action and chemical structure.

Modern drugs have less effect on the brain, do not cause addiction or side effects, but are more likely to be antidepressants that eliminate symptoms rather than a means of treatment.

These include: Abilify, Quetiapine, Clozasten, Levomepromazine, Triftazine, Fluphenazine, Fluanxol .

Advantages:

There are no disturbances in psychomotor reactions
safe for treating children
the risk of developing pathologies is reduced
easy tolerability
One dose of the drug is enough to achieve a positive result
help with skin diseases (recent studies have shown that treating dry skin with antipsychotics produces positive results in older people whose diseases are associated with neuralgia)

List of drugs without prescriptions

There are a number of antipsychotic medications that can be purchased without a prescription.

They are considered safe for the patient, help in relieving stress, muscle spasms, depression, etc.

Most people are misled about dangers antipsychotics, however, pharmacology does not stand still, and old-generation antipsychotics are almost no longer used in medicine.

Modern drugs have virtually no side effects, and brain activity is restored within three days after the drug is removed from the body.

Drug treatment is the mainstay of treatment for many diseases. More often it is carried out comprehensively. But each medicine prescribed by a doctor has its own characteristics.

One of the groups of drugs that require careful monitoring and supervision by a specialist are antipsychotics. Let's take a closer look at what these drugs are and how they work.

Drugs such as antipsychotics have been used in psychiatry not so long ago. But in a short time of use, they made it possible to achieve positive results in the treatment of pathologies that were previously difficult to treat.This is a group of drugs that are used to treat mental disorders.

Neuroleptics help fight psychosis.

When this group of drugs appeared, specialists used narcotic and poisonous plants, bromine and lithium to treat patients. Comatose therapy was also used.

But in 1950, Aminazine was discovered, which contributed to the development of psychiatry. This made it possible to create more gentle methods of treating patients with mental disorders. The drugs have significantly increased the number of long-term remissions.

The active substances of the drugs make it possible to treat a number of mental illnesses. The mechanism of their action is to reduce the speed of transmission of impulses sent by the brain.

The action is based on the influence of active substances that suppress the activity of parts of the brain. Most drugs break down fairly quickly and are completely eliminated from the patient’s body.

Today, drugs are used in the form of tablets and solutions for intramuscular administration. Many of them have a long-lasting effect that lasts for a month.

Neuroleptics have a special effect on the body. They differ from many other medicines by the presence of:

Hypothermic action. The drugs help reduce elevated body temperature.
Sedative effect. Due to the content of active substances in certain quantities, they have a calming effect.
Antitussive and antihiccup effect. The products help relieve a prolonged cough or frequent hiccups.
Hypotensive effects.

The use of antipsychotics can reduce the body's autonomic reactions and normalize the patient's behavior. The drugs have a tranquilizing and antiemetic effect. In addition, they allow you to potentiate the effects of alcoholic beverages, analgesics based on narcotic substances, sleeping pills and tranquilizers.

Useful video about antipsychotics:

Classification

All antipsychotics are divided into two large groups. The first includes typical ones. These are classic medicines that are quite effective.The disadvantage is the high likelihood of developing side effects.

Typical antipsychotics are divided into several subgroups depending on their clinical effects:

The second group includes atypical drugs. These are modern means, after use of which the risk of developing side effects is minimal.

Depending on the duration of action, there are drugs with a short-term effect and drugs with a prolonged effect.

In the first case, the effect of the active substances on the central nervous system ceases after a few hours, immediately after the breakdown products are eliminated from the body. The second group includes drugs whose effect continues for several months even after their discontinuation.

In psychiatry, various drugs related to antipsychotics are used. Each of them has its own distinctive features and is used in the presence of certain mental disorders.

Drugs	Peculiarities
Aminazine	Belongs to the group of phenothiazines. After use, lethargy and intellectual inhibition are observed. Can be used enterally or parenterally.
Triftazin	A strong antipsychotic that has a stimulating effect. It has antiemetic, antihistamine effects, and has antispasmodic and analytical properties.
Etaperazine	It has a strong antiemetic effect.
Sonapax	Known for its moderate stimulating effect on the central nervous system.
Haloperidol	Active neuroleptic. Used for psychosis.
Chlorprothixene	Its composition and properties are similar to Aminazine.
Clozapine	Has a sedative effect.
Sulpiride	Stimulates the central nervous system. Used for psychoses that are accompanied by lethargy and lethargy

The dosage of each drug is determined by the attending physician based on the nature, type, form and characteristics of the disease.

Indications for use

Drugs in this group are irreplaceable if the patient has hallucinations, delusions, agitation and abnormal behavior.

Neuroleptics are used to treat various types of psychoses. They help relieve anxiety, fears, and help with phobias and depression.

Indications for the use of drugs are:

Dangerous or aggressive behavior.
Sudden change of mood.
Apathy.
Lethargy.
Psychomotor agitation.
Hallucinations and delusions.
Sleep disturbance.
Vomit.
A constant and pronounced feeling of fear.

Neuroleptics help normalize brain activity, activate the work of certain parts of it, or slow it down.

When they start to act

The time for drugs to take effect depends on the type of drug. Some of them begin to affect brain activity almost immediately after use. This applies to medications that are given intravenously.

Some products may begin to work 6-8 weeks after administration.

These are cumulative drugs. They continue to have an effect on the body even after completing the course of therapy for 2-3 months.

Typical and atypical antipsychotics have a number of contraindications. These include:

Individual intolerance to the components included in the composition.
Angle-closure glaucoma.
Parthia.
Prostate adenoma.
Allergic reaction to this group of drugs.
Liver and kidney failure.
Parkinsonism.
Pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
Coma.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Fever in acute form.

Before prescribing antipsychotics, the specialist must carefully examine the patient’s medical history and make sure there are no contraindications.

Possible side effects

Side effects after taking antipsychotics are quite pronounced. Among the undesirable symptoms are:

By-effect	Features of development
Neuroleptic syndrome	Occurs against the background of extrapyramidal disorders. Patients experience increased muscle tone. All movements of a person become inhibited, speech becomes slurred. There is restlessness.
Endocrine system disorders	They arise as a result of prolonged use of drugs. As a result, the functioning of certain organs and systems is disrupted.
Drowsiness	Occurs when using typical antipsychotics. The symptom disappears 4 months after the end of the course of therapy.
Weight loss	It is observed most often in women.

Patients also experience a decrease in appetite. If side effects occur, you should consult your doctor.

If the dose prescribed by the doctor is exceeded, unpleasant symptoms of varying severity may occur:

Patients experience weakness, dizziness, nausea, and dry oral mucosa.
In some cases, a person may lose consciousness.
The pupils are constricted, the reaction to light is slow.
There is a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate.
The development of an allergic reaction in the form of redness, itching, and hives is also observed.
The nervous system also suffers. Patients experience convulsions, spasms of muscle tissue, and ataxia. Hyperkinetic syndrome is expressed in the form of tremor of the upper extremities.

The danger of an overdose is that the patient may develop a coma or death. That is why it is important to follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Antipsychotics should be used with caution when taking other groups of drugs. If used incorrectly, signs of overdose may occur.

The simultaneous use of antipsychotics and antidepressants causes an increase in the effect of the drugs. As a result, constipation, arterial hypertension, and intestinal obstruction occur.

Group of drugs	Consequences
Benzodiazepines	This leads to impaired respiratory function and the appearance of sedative side effects.
Lithium preparations	In case of simultaneous use, drowsiness, confusion, and hyperglycemia occur. This combination is allowed only under the supervision of a doctor.
Adrenergic agonists	Concomitant use of drugs leads to a decrease in the effect of the drugs.
Antihistamines	Strengthen the effect of antipsychotics on the central nervous system.
Analgesics	When taken together with antipsychotics, the effect of the drugs is enhanced.

More information about antipsychotics can be found in the video:

Prognosis after treatment

A course of treatment with antipsychotics allows you to stabilize the patient’s condition and normalize the functioning of the central nervous system.

But the use of drugs in this group can cause serious consequences.

In addition, long-term use of medications contributes to the development of addiction.

That is why you should not stop taking medications or change the dosage on your own. It is also not recommended to abruptly stop using them. In this case, withdrawal syndrome occurs, which most often requires medical attention.

Medicines in this group are used to treat autism and mental retardation in children. Indications for use include aggressive behavior, increased anxiety, motor agitation or retardation, and fear.

Many drugs in this group activate speech, improve the ability to communicate, and restore intellectual productivity.

The drugs are prescribed to school-age children or adolescents. Haloperidolapproved for the treatment of children over 3 years of age.After the course of treatment, a decrease in active negativism is observed. Children make contact more easily and allow you to dress them. In some cases, young patients tried to dress themselves. There is also the emergence of primitive self-service skills.

After treatment, it is easier for children to concentrate, they are able to concentrate on a specific object, and the focus of their thinking increases.

Parents also say that their children are learning the school curriculum better.

Also, the use of antipsychotics in the treatment of children with autism and other mental illnesses is accompanied by the emergence of new skills for them. But it is possible to use products from this group only after consulting a doctor. It is also important to observe the dosage of the drug.

Drugs for breastfeeding and pregnancy

Antipsychotics are strictly prohibited for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. This is due to the fact that the active substances of the drug negatively affect the woman’s body and the process of fetal formation.

If it is necessary to use antipsychotics during lactation, a woman should completely stop breastfeeding.The use of drugs in this group can lead to serious consequences.

Antipsychotics are used to treat mental illnesses and disorders. But when they are used by a healthy person, negative consequences may occur.

These include:

Lethargy or excessive excitability.
Sleep disturbance.
Confusion.
Sudden change of mood.

When used without indications, drugs of this group can also lead to death. That is why medications should be taken only if there are serious indications and after consultation with a doctor. Only a specialist can calculate the dosage and duration of taking medications.

Neuroleptics are a group of drugs that are used to treat mental illness.

They are prescribed to both children and adults. Despite many advantages, they also have a number of disadvantages. First of all, the drugs can be addictive. Taking medications without a doctor's prescription is dangerous to life and health, especially if there is no indication for it. Uncontrolled use causes death.

Neuroleptic (translated as “neuro” - nervous system and “leptikos” - capable of taking) are antipsychotic drugs that forcibly inhibit the human nervous system and take control of a person’s higher nervous activity into their own hands.

These medications are used in the treatment of mentally ill people, to whom those suffering from vegetative-vascular dystonia have nothing to do. Therefore, treatment of VSD with antipsychotics should not have the right to exist. Let's look at these medications in more detail.

Mechanism of action of antipsychotics

As with all psychotropic drugs, exactly where and how antipsychotics act is still unknown. There are only assumptions. According to them, the effect of antipsychotics is associated with direct interference in the metabolism of biologically active substances in the central nervous system, namely in the brain. They reduce the transmission of nerve impulses in different parts of the brain, where it is carried out using a substance such as dopamine.

In addition to the necessary impact on the areas of the brain responsible for the occurrence of psychosis (the limbic system), various areas of the brain and connections of nerve cells with normal activity fall under their action. This is the extrapyramidal system, hypothalamus, pituitary gland. At the same time, their activity is significantly reduced, which leads to a huge list of serious disorders in the body. Disruption of dopamine receptors (dopamine-sensitive nerve connections) in the mesocortical system (the middle part of the cerebral cortex) leads to cognitive dysfunction (cognitive means the mental functioning of the brain, and dysfunction means disruption of normal functioning). Simply put, a person turns into a simple, thoughtless and insensitive vegetable. In addition to dopamine receptors, antipsychotics block receptors sensitive to adrenaline, acetylcholine and serotonin.

Neuroleptics classification

Neuroleptics are divided according to their chemical composition, clinical properties, and the predominance of a certain type of action. But all these classifications are very conditional, because the effect of the drug depends on many conditions, including the individual characteristics of each person. I will not present this entire diagram here, especially since it is huge, does not provide any useful information to the common person and is constantly changing. And scientists have not stopped arguing about it to this day.

One pattern has been noticed - the higher the antipsychotic effect, the stronger the side effects of the drug. Based on this, there is a division of antipsychotics into two groups: typical and atypical.

Typical antipsychotics.

Broad-spectrum drugs. They affect all possible brain structures that use dopamine, adrenaline, acetylcholine and serotonin as a neurotransmitter (substance for transmitting nerve impulses). This breadth of exposure creates a huge number of side effects. This group includes two subgroups:

1. With a predominance of sedative action.

They cause a pronounced relaxing, sedative, hypnotic and anti-anxiety effect.
List of these drugs:
aminazine (chlorpromazine), sultopride (topral), levomepromazine (tizercin), promazan (propazine), chlorprothixene (truxal), thioridazine (sonapax), neuleptil, frenolone, tizercin.

2. With a predominance of antipsychotic action.

These include drugs:
haloperidol, trifluoperazine (triftazine), droperidol, etaprazine, zuclopenthixol (clopixol), flupenthixol (fluanxol), mazeptil, clopixol, chlorprothixene, piportil, moditen-depot.

Atypical antipsychotics.

These medications act less on dopamine receptors and more on serotonin receptors. Therefore, they have a less pronounced antipsychotic effect, and a more calming and anti-anxiety effect. They have less impact on the entire functioning of the brain, as do drugs related to typical antipsychotics.
Over the past decade, completely new antipsychotics of this second group have been invented and registered. Research in this area continues, but drugs are put on the market without full analysis, which previously took 5-7 years. Today this period has been reduced to 1 year.
These are the following drugs:
quetiapine (Seroquel), clozapine (Azaleptin, Leponex), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Rispolept, Risset, Speridan, Torendo), paliperidone (Invega), sertindole (Serdolect), ziprasidone (Zeldox), aripiprazole (Abilify), amisulpride ( Solian), sulpiride (eglonil).

The side effects of this group are less than those of typical antipsychotics, but also serious. This is a violation of the secretion of important hormones, changes in the blood formula, toxic effects on the liver, weight gain, drowsiness, and headache. In general, they cause less extrapyramidal and autonomic disorders.

I want to say that a small number of antipsychotics have a very sharp difference in the predominance of one of their actions. This is the reason that different authors classify the same drugs in different groups. But I think that for VSD specialists the information on the classification of antipsychotics is sufficient. The main thing is to know which group of psychotropic drugs the drug prescribed to you belongs to and how it can threaten your health.

Side effects of neuroleptics.

Based on the mechanism of action and their ability to block a huge number of nerve receptors, the side effects of antipsychotics are very complex and varied.

They call:

Neuroleptic syndrome - extrapyramidal disorders such as hypo- (decreased) or hyper- (increased) motor functions of skeletal muscles;

Drug dystonia (involuntary contraction and relaxation of muscles);

Drug-induced parkinsonism (tremor of hands and head), disturbance of facial expressions;

Akathisia (in order to calm down, a person feels the need to constantly move);

Cognitive dysfunction - impaired mental activity of the brain, decreased intelligence;

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) – after treatment with antipsychotics, kidney failure, muscle stiffness, and elevated body temperature occur, which can lead to death;

Disorder of the autonomic nervous system (drop in blood pressure, tachycardia, decrease in body temperature, disruption of the stomach and intestines);

Delayed urine output;

Disturbance in the production of hormones in the pituitary gland (this organ is considered the most important hormonal regulator in the body);

Sexual function disorders in both men and women;

Damage to the tissues of the liver and kidneys, and some drugs hit these organs very hard;

Deterioration of vision;

Violation of the blood formula;

Increased risk of cancer;

Violation of fetal development during pregnancy.

As a result of their effect on fat metabolism, the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular diseases, pneumonia and diabetes mellitus increases significantly in patients taking antipsychotics. This risk increases when taking typical and atypical antipsychotics simultaneously. Neuroleptics also contribute to weight gain, and disruption of the production of the hormone prolactin causes enlargement of the mammary glands. Recent studies suggest that the risk of developing diabetes mellitus is greater with the use of new atypical antipsychotics.
Antipsychotics should be prescribed to children with special caution. With long-term treatment of children with antipsychotics, the development and intensification of mental illness is possible.

What drugs are antipsychotics? Toward modern medications that help patients with psychotic disorders. They are prescribed and used for various syndromes - from psychoses to full-blown mental illnesses. Not all of them are dispensed by pharmacists without a doctor’s prescription, so we present antipsychotics a list of drugs without prescriptions.

What is a neuroleptic?

These are drugs that can help treat mental illness. Available in three forms, but less often - in drops. You can buy it in pharmacies in any CIS country: Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and others. Patients are afraid, although the truth about over-the-counter antipsychotics is that they rarely cause negative effects.

Effect of antipsychotic drugs

What effect do neuroleptics have? The drugs calm, reducing external mental influence, relieve tension, reduce feelings of aggression and fear. Antipsychotics relieve the symptoms of people with mental disorders, in the treatment of schizophrenia, help get rid of obsessive thoughts, and calm down. Most antipsychotics are divided into two groups: long-acting tranquilizers and antidepressants; a group of prescription antipsychotics. According to the classification, they are divided into typical and atypical drugs. Wikipedia divides the list of antipsychotics with a prescription according to the active substance into:

Thioxanthenes;
Phenothiazines;
Benzodiazepines;
Barbiturates.

Mode of action of neuroleptics

Neuroleptic cause an antipsychotic effect: they extinguish nervousness, weaken psychosis. The side effects of the drugs are not dangerous if taken with care. For recovery, a consultation with the attending physician is required, who will re-prescribe the antipsychotic used with or without a prescription.

Pharmacokinetics

Mechanism of action: antipsychotropic medications affect the dopamine structures of the brain, blocking access to them, which provokes endocrine disorders and lactation. Prescription antipsychotics have a short half-life. Once ingested, the drugs do not act for long, although there are over-the-counter antipsychotics with an increased, prolonged duration. Prescription antipsychotics can be prescribed in pairs: one to stimulate the other. Additionally, it is recommended to use anti-depressant drugs, primarily of an antipsychotic nature.

Indications for use

Important! Prescription antipsychotics are indicated for use in paranoid disorders and chronic somatoform disorders with pain. The most common active ingredients: thioxanthene, phenothiazine.

The primary purpose of the drug is a standard dose that determines therapeutic symptoms. The amount of the drug taken starts at a high level, gradually decreasing. As a result, the dose is 1/4 of the original and continues to prevent relapse. Daily doses of the drug are individual, so the initial and final doses are different. Anti-relapse therapy is carried out with long-acting ones. Prescription antipsychotics are administered into the body through injections or IVs, the exact method depends on the person. Secondary administration, for maintenance, occurs orally: antipsychotics without a prescription in tablet or capsule form.

List of the most effective drugs available without a doctor's prescription:

"Propazine" is an antipsychotic without a prescription. The medication serves as an anti-anxiety agent, relieves anxiety, and slows down movements. Used for various types of phobias and somatic disorders. Tablets 25 mg, take two or three daily, sometimes the dose is increased to six. Small doses are unable to cause side effects.

Teralen is a prescription antipsychotic. Produces antihistamine and neuroleptic effects. Along with Propazine, it has a sedative effect in various psychoses caused by infectious diseases. This prescription antipsychotic, due to its mild effect, is the only one on the list used for children, and is recommended for allergy sufferers and people with dermatological diseases. The daily dose of the drug is 25 mg. Intramuscular administration is possible in the form of a half-percent solution.

The prescription drug Thioridazine is used when you need sedation. Unlike analogues, it does not provoke fatigue. The medicine is effective in treating emotional disorders and helps overcome fear. When treating states borderline with psychosis, 70 +/- 30 mg per day is prescribed. In other cases: neuralgic anxiety, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract or cardiovascular system caused by neurosis, it is prescribed to take it two to three times every day. The dose depends on the disease and the patient’s body. The daily dose range is between 5 and 25 mg. Psycholeptic, need a prescription.

An antipsychotic without a prescription, Triftazin helps in the treatment of depression, relieves hallucinations, and protects the body from delusional and obsessive ideas. By stimulating the body, the antipsychotic effect helps treat atypical conditions that are characterized by obsessive syndromes. As therapy, Triftazin is combined with other substances, whether tranquilizers or hypnotic antidepressants. The daily dose of an over-the-counter antipsychotic is similar to Etaperazine - 20, sometimes 25 mg.

"Fluanxol" is an antipsychotic without a prescription. Protects against depression, stimulates the body with an anti-delusional effect. For ongoing treatment of emotional disorders, 1/2 to 3 mg daily is prescribed - the smallest dose on the list. For the treatment of mental illness, hallucinations and schizophrenia, 3 mg per day is prescribed. The least common on the list causes drowsiness.

The non-prescription antipsychotic “Chlorprothixene” is intended to provide sedative and antipsychotic effects, and stimulates the functioning of the sleeping pill. It is considered an anxiolytic - a tranquilizer. The main area of application is patients with obsessive worries and phobias. Chlorprothixene is taken after meals three times a day, a single dose varies from 5 to 15 mg. This is the only nighttime drug on the list because it improves sleep.

"Etaperazine" is an antipsychotic without a prescription. It is a means of combating psychotic disorders associated with apathy. Affects areas of the brain responsible for reluctance to perform actions. Etaperazine is a potent means of combating neuroses that cause phobias and anxiety. Instructions for use recommend taking up to 20 mg per day.

Inexpensive over-the-counter drugs are not presented as they have a weak effect. The following are available without a prescription: Chlorprothixene, Propazine, Etaperazine, Thioridazine, Fluanxol. Despite this, before using non-prescription drugs, consultation with a specialist is required. Thioridazine is an over-the-counter anxiolytic, and is not the strongest of the antipsychotics.

Side effects of drugs

Incorrect use of antipsychotics without a prescription is the main provocateur of side effects. Long-term use sometimes provokes the disorders presented in the list:

Muscle nerves that cause spontaneous sudden movements in different directions. Acceleration of movement. Additional drugs - tranquilizers - help calm this condition. From the list appears most often;
Disorder of the nerve endings of the facial muscles. This causes involuntary movement of the eyes and muscle structures of the face, causing the person to grimace. Why is such a process dangerous? Facial expression may not return to normal and may remain with the patient until death. The side effect is typical of typical over-the-counter antipsychotics;
Intensive treatment with antipsychotics without a prescription develops or worsens depression due to its effects on the nervous system. Depression reduces the treatment received, weakens the effect of sleeping pills;
Antipsychotic drugs have an effect on the gastrointestinal tract, which causes corresponding side effects - heartburn, nausea.
Some substances in the composition have a negative effect on the organs of vision in case of overdose.

Atypical are the new generation of drugs that do not act on dopamine receptors, causing rest. This is caused by an effect on the body's serotonin receptors. Atypical prescription antipsychotics have less effect on the brain, being more of a daytime antidepressant than a treatment for mental disorders. New generation drugs have almost no side effects. Atypical drugs cannot be called cheap.

The presented list highlights common atypicalities:

Olanzapine, an over-the-counter antipsychotic, is the only one on the list used to combat catatonia - involuntary movements. It has side effects - they can be taken for a long time, but this upsets the endocrine system and causes obesity. Among other things, it is the strongest of those presented, therefore it tops the list of antipsychotics without prescriptions.

The non-prescription drug Clozapine is similar in its work to many typical drugs from the list above - it has a sedative effect, but protects the body from depression. The range of uses of tablets is for hallucinations and obsessions. Has an anti-delirium effect. One from the list is shown to children over 5 years old.

Risperidone is an over-the-counter antipsychotic that is widely used in practice. The composition of the substance combines all the positive effects characteristic of those presented above: it protects against cataleptogenic symptoms, hallucinations, delusional and obsessive thoughts. It is not yet known whether it helps with childhood neuroses.

"Rispolept-Consta" is a long-acting, non-prescription antipsychotic. Normalizes, sometimes restores the previous state of health. Having a long half-life, it stays in the body for a long time, which helps fight paranoid syndromes. Quite an expensive antipsychotic without a prescription among the list.

The non-prescription antipsychotic “Quetiapine” acts on both types of receptors, protecting the body from paranoid and manic syndromes and fighting hallucinations. Slightly relieves depression, but strongly stimulates. For the same thing, you need “Amitriptyline”, not included in the list, but its analogue.

The non-prescription antipsychotic "Ariprizole" has an effect on psychosis and is good for the therapeutic treatment of schizophrenia. It is considered the safest on the list.

"Serdolect" is similar in effect to Ariprizole. Along with the latter, this non-prescription antipsychotic restores cognitive functions and is mainly used in the treatment of apathy. Sertindole is contraindicated in patients on the heart list.

The drug "Invega" is an alternative to Aripiprazole, protecting and restoring the body in schizophrenia. It is listed as “by prescription”.

"Eglonil" is on the list of atypical antipsychotics without a prescription, although many mistakenly classify it as a typical one. Serves to restore the functioning of the central nervous system, has an effect on depression, and helps fight apathy symptoms. The only psychoanaleptic on the list. It is highly recommended that Eglonil be used in patients with depression due to somatic problems: allergic reactions and migraines. Used to treat problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Approved for use together with sedative antidepressants.

In the presented list of atypical antipsychotics without a prescription, only Invega is available with a prescription. Each over-the-counter drug is a daily use. Atypical drugs approved for retail sale are sold in any pharmacies. In Russia, the price depends on the drug, ranging from 100 to several thousand rubles.

What is the best drug after a stroke?

After a stroke, atypical drugs, such as Clozapine, are preferred for recovery from emotional distress. In the post-painful period, you can refuse prescription antipsychotics if you feel well.

Side effects of atypical antipsychotics

How atypical drugs work: The way some drugs work causes neurolepsy and has a negative effect on endocrine structures. These factors cause obesity and bulimia.

Attention! Pharmacists, having conducted research, say with confidence: atypical neuroleptics without a prescription are little better than regular ones. Because of this, they are prescribed only in the absence of a positive effect of typical antipsychotic drugs. Any side effects that arise are resolved by correctors.

Withdrawal syndrome

Most non-prescription antipsychotics that affect the psyche can be addictive. Unexpected withdrawal of medication causes aggression, develops depression, reduces nervous stability - a person quickly loses patience and begins to cry easily. Additionally, side effects may occur from taking antipsychotics without a prescription. Antipsychotic withdrawal syndrome has common features with drug cessation. The patient experiences bone aches, migraines, constant lack of sleep due to insomnia, and possible problems with the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting. From the psychological point of view, the patient is afraid of returning to a depressive state due to refusal to take the drug, for which one must be able to correctly stop using antipsychotics without a prescription.

Important! A doctor will help you get off psychotropic and antipsychotropic medications without a prescription.

Using antipsychotics without a prescription can cause problems; only an experienced doctor can correctly assess the problem and prescribe the right treatment. The doctor will tell you how to take it and how to reduce the amount of the drug you take. Upon completion of taking prescription antipsychotics, antidepressants are additionally prescribed, which will maintain mood and mental state at a good level.

Neuroleptic or neuroblockers are drugs, usually with a prescription, that help normalize mental disorders, bringing a person’s nervous states back to normal. Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions regarding taking medications - this will help avoid side effects. Although the prices are high, many antipsychotics are sold without a prescription.