Antipsychotic Addiction and Rehabilitation

   Sep. 7, 2015
   22 minute read
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Last Edited: March 15, 2020
Author
Sarah Ann Niemann
Clinically Reviewed
Jim Brown, CDCA
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and certified by an addiction professional.

Dangers of Antipsychotic Abuse

Antipsychotics are a class of drugs used to treat positive symptoms associated with a psychotic disorder or episode. These drugs are often used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as off-label for insomnia and other conditions.

A great deal of controversy surrounds Antipsychotics and drug abuse. These substances certainly call for special consideration as people who are prescribed Antipsychotics most likely legitimately require the medication. To be clear, when discussing Antipsychotic abuse and complications thereof, we do not mean those taking the drugs with a legitimate prescription or not as intended by the prescribing physician.

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Some people abuse these drugs and do so at great risk. Too much of any substance can be detrimental to one’s health and Antipsychotics are no exception. There is a huge difference between taking medication prescribed by a doctor, as prescribed, and taking drugs for entertainment. Some people who abuse Antipsychotics do not have a prescription for them. Antipsychotic abuse involves taking someone else’s medication or taking more than prescribed to alter your state of consciousness.

Types of Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics are broken up into two categories, typical and atypical. Typical was the first type of Antipsychotic discovered and tends to work on dopamine neural systems. An atypical, or second-generation Antipsychotic, was developed later and usually works on the dopamine and serotonin receptors.

Both types of Antipsychotics are still commonly prescribed, with some of the older drugs being remarketed as sleep aids and for other ailments.

These prescription drugs are used to treat psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, extreme depression, and bipolar depression. Off-label, these drugs are used to treat insomnia and other psychological and mental issues.

Effects of Antipsychotic Effects

Antipsychotics are excellent at treating the positive symptoms of psychosis. Positive symptoms are symptoms that are in addition to the normal sensory perception of reality. These include hallucinations and delusions and can devastate the life of the individual.

Antipsychotics work on the dopamine and serotonin systems in the brain. Newer Antipsychotics are thought to work faster.

Different Antipsychotics have different effects, however, in general these drugs tend to be sedating, especially if taken by someone who does not have the psychotic symptoms to begin with. Drowsiness is one of the more common side effects of the drug for anyone using it. These powerful drugs are also associated with weight gain, high cholesterol and increased risk of diabetes.

Warning signs of Antipsychotic abuse in a loved one

Antipsychotic abuse can be unnecessarily alarming for some and misleading for readers. People who abuse Antipsychotics are almost entirely poly-substance abusers, who combined these prescription drugs with any and every other kind of drug. Abuse of Antipsychotics by individuals who hold a legitimate prescription is not common and not the topic here. Most warning signs are in association with other types of drug abuse. Symptoms of general drug abuse include:

  • Withdrawing from friends and family; The driving force behind this change is so that the person associates more with others who also use. Changing friends and social activities are common when someone starts abusing other highly addictive drugs.
  • Behavioral changes are another common symptom of drug abuse. Severe mood swings are common with fluctuations between irritability, depression and anxiety. If your loved one was already prone to mood swings, the cause of the fluctuations can be difficult to determine.
  • Financial problems are another hallmark sign of illicit drug use. Illicit drugs are expensive and the more someone uses, the more he or she needs to use. This accumulated drug habit can result in thousands of dollars a day spent on illicit drugs.

Factual Dangers: Antipsychotic

Antipsychotics alone are uncommon substances for one to abuse. Drug abuse usually surrounds other prescription drugs, illicit drugs and Alcohol. The reason is that Antipsychotics do not result in the euphoric experience that commonly abused drugs are known for. Therefore, abuse of Antipsychotics is typically isolated to those already abusing other substances who combine these powerful prescription drugs to enhance or alter the effects of other drugs. Combining these drugs with anything not expressly permitted by a doctor is extremely dangerous.

Factual Dangers: Adderall

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