Explains what antipsychotics are used for, how the medication works, possible side effects and information about withdrawal.
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Antipsychotics are a type of psychiatric medication which are available on prescription to treat psychosis. They are licensed to treat certain types of mental health problem whose symptoms include psychotic experiences. This includes:
Some antipsychotics are also licensed to treat other health problems, including:
Antipsychotics can be prescribed to be taken in various different ways. Most commonly you will take them by swallowing them, in tablet or liquid form. But some of them can also be prescribed as a depot injection. This is a slow-release, slow-acting form of the medication, given as an injection every few weeks.
If you are given antipsychotics in hospital, doctors may use a type of antipsychotic that you can inhale, called loxapine adusave. But this is not available for general prescription.
The healthcare professionals who can prescribe you antipsychotics include:
When you are first prescribed antipsychotics, this is usually done by a psychiatrist. Your GP can also sometimes give your first prescription. But they more likely to give you ongoing prescriptions, once you are already taking the medication.
These information pages usually refer to 'your doctor or psychiatrist' prescribing this medication. They are the most likely people to prescribe you these drugs.
Watch Steve, Joe, Laura and Ziaul talk about their experiences of taking antipsychotics in this video:
Antipsychotic drugs don't cure psychosis but they can help to reduce and control many psychotic symptoms, including:
Antipsychotics might not get rid of these symptoms completely. They may just stop you feeling so bothered by them. This is to help you feel more stable, so you can lead your life the way you want to. Taking antipsychotics can also reduce the risk of these symptoms returning in future (relapse).
You may find that some types of antipsychotic work better than others for your symptoms. Or you may find that antipsychotics aren’t right for you. See our page on how antipsychotics can help to find out more.
"They make me feel calm, help me sleep, stop racing thoughts and help blunt hallucinations. Meds don't make life perfect – they just help me cope with the imperfections and struggles I face."
There are several possible explanations why antipsychotic drugs may help to reduce psychotic symptoms:
Antipsychotics may help to relieve psychotic symptoms by causing changes to your brain chemistry. But the causes of psychosis can be very complex, and may be affected by your life experiences and your environment as much as the chemicals in your brain.
This is why you are likely to be offered talking therapy as a treatment for your psychosis, alongside medication. This is to help you with the causes of your psychosis, while the medication helps you deal with the symptoms.
Antipsychotic drugs tend to fall into one of two categories:
Both types can potentially work for different people. They also have different side effects.
Key facts:
Key facts:
The side effects that you may experience from drugs in either group will vary, depending on your dose and how you respond to the drug that you are prescribed.
For a full list of all antipsychotic drugs compared by category, form and half-life, see our page on comparing antipsychotics. For more details about specific antipsychotics, you can also look up each individual drug in our A–Z of antipsychotics.
"I still take antipsychotic medication today and I don't have a problem with it. I feel so much better than when I was first prescribed an antipsychotic. I know that they work for me and help."
This information was published in September 2020. We will revise it in 2023.
References and bibliography available on request.
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