In 1950 drugs for schizophrenia were discovered and used to treat this disease. Chlorpromazine, haloperidol and thioridazine become the standard treatment for most of schizophrenia patients. The patients were filling better, the symptoms of schizophrenia disappeared or reduced their intensity. Agitation and hallucinations were well controlled. But, after years of continuous treatment side effects appear. Their side effects are very annoying, such as: heart palpitations, akathisia, constipation, dry mouth, urinary retention, sexual problems, dizziness, muscle twitches and tics, but fortunately another medicine were discovered.
The new class of antipsychotics was introduced with great expectations. Clozaril, Zyprexa and Risperdal have not the side effects of the classic antipsychotics. A very good thing you can say. And this is was the opinion of the most persons that are involved in schizophrenia problem. But, also aren’t perfect.
First of all the patients treated with new class of antipsychotics gain weight, and this is a big problem. Many patients refuse to take teir medication because of this. Another problem is their price. Are very expensive, and some patients can’t afford them. And this is not normal.
There are many studies regarded the compliance at the treatment of schizophrenic patients. It is well known that people do not respond the same at a specific medication even they do have the same symptoms. Some of them can respond very well and others can not, or more, can harm.
But now we can not complain. If the response from the first drug that we used isn’t the best we can change the dose that we used. Now, if the response isn’t quite right we can change the medicine with another.
Even the results of schizophrenia treatment aren’t perfect they encourage us and let us hope that in the near feature we can succeed.
Visit my Schizophrenia website for more information on this subject. Also, don't forget to check out the Symptoms Of Schizophrenia page.
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