Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Antipsychotic Medication and Mental Illnesses



Psychiatric disorders can be pose risk factors for diabetes and can cause complications with a condition of diabetes. Antipsychotic medications that are used to treat psychiatric disorders are associated with diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic medical illness and is often associated with several psychiatric disorders. Antipsychotic medications are a vital treatment of the medication management of severe psychiatric disorders.  
The co occurrence of diabetes and psychiatric disorders is thought to be related to several factors. A diagnosis of diabetes can lead to increased levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and lowered self-esteem. In individuals who have psychiatric disorders the complications are even greater.
Antipsychotic medications are widely used to treat a variety of psychiatric disorders. The treatment for psychotic disorders and is of schizophrenia and to prevent relapses; and is treatment for manic and mixed phases of bipolar disorder.
The use of antipsychotics is linked to an increase of weight gain. Atypical antipsychotics, including those that are less likely to induce weight gain, have a greater effect on weight gain in children and adolescents. Among children and adolescents treated for schizophrenia, autism there is significant weight gain has been associated with the use of medication. Many patients with schizophrenia may have diabetes and be unaware of it.
 Schizophrenia is a devastating illness, it occurs at an early age. These medications often prevent a severe disability and inhibit aggressive and dangerous behavior.
Antipsychotic medications are used in those with bipolar disorder as a short term treatment to control psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions. These symptoms may occur during acute mania or severe depression.
In people with bipolar disorder, antipsychotics are also used as sedatives, for insomnia, for anxiety, and for agitation. They can be taken with a mood stabilizing drug and can decrease symptoms of mania until mood stabilizers take full effect. Some antipsychotic drugs may also help lessen bipolar depression.
Some of the newer antipsychotics seem to help stabilize moods on their own. As a result, they may be used alone as long-term treatment for people who don't tolerate or respond to lithium and anticonvulsants.
Antipsychotic drugs help balance certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is not clear exactly how these drugs work, but they usually improve manic episodes quickly.
The newer antipsychotics faster acting and can help avoid reckless and impulsive behaviors associated with mania. More normal thinking often is restored relatively fast with a response often in a week.
Certain antipsychotic drugs cause high cholesterol levels, and they may increase the risk of diabetes.
Common side effects of antipsychotic medications include: Blurred vision; dry mouth; drowsiness; muscle spasms or tremor; involuntary facial tics
Older antipsychotic drugs may be helpful if a person has severe side effects or does not respond to the newer drugs. These drugs may cause serious long term side effects called tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements like protruding the tongue, or grimacing.
The benefits of an antipsychotic medication for a may outweigh the potential risks, even when those risks include diabetes. 

No comments:

Post a Comment