Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics work by blocking the effect of dopamine. They are split into two types, typical and atypical, where the former (including Chlorpromazine and Haloperidol) have more adverse side effects. Antipsychotics can reduce feelings of aggression or anxiety within a few hours of use, but they can take much longer to reduce other psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations.

As with most drugs there are negative side effects of antipsychotics, which include drowsiness, restlessness, trembling, shaking, muscle twitches and spasms. Some users also report weight gain, dizziness, reduced sexual activity and dry mouth.

Antipsychotics can be taken orally or they can be given as an injection. There are also several 'slow release' antipsychotics, where one injection can last between two to six weeks.

Antipsychotic drugs are mainly used to help people who experience psychosis, which covers schizophrenia and manic behaviour. Antipsychotics can also be prescribed for dementia, and in very low doses anxiety. They are even prescribed to help chronic hiccups.

Illicit drug users who abuse hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD sometimes use antipsychotics because they help reduce the hallucinations and after-effects caused by the hypnotic. Studies into schizophrenia have noted other substance misuse as a way of alleviating some of the drawbacks of prescription antipsychotics, in particular alcohol and cocaine.

Concateno offer a test for selected antipsychotics in oral fluid, hair and urine

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