So we can understand better the side effects of schizophrenia treatments let's get back in history to see how we started this treatment, what were the first methods of schizophrenia treatment.
Because of their symptoms, first, in antiquity, the schizophrenic patients where considered possessed by demons, so they where tortured, jailed and beaten, and women burned as if they where witches.
Then, when the science and the medicine evolved, we introduced electroshock therapy. As a surgical procedure appears lobotomy (the frontal lobe of the brain is taken off), that was very used to the agitated patients.
Another important step in the schizophrenia's therapy was the discovery of drugs therapy. First drugs where chlorpromazine, haloperidol and thioridazine, and when they appeared they where considered revolutionary. Many symptoms disappeared, patients where filling well, so well that they didn't need to stay in psychiatric hospitals. But, in a long-time treatment the side effects appeared. Also , if the patient stop taking his medication the symptoms reappear.
The most unpleasant side effects are: heart palpitations, urinary retention, sexual problems, akathisia, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, muscle twitches and tics. This kind of symptoms disappeared once the new class of antipsychotics was introduced.
Medications as Clozaril and Zyprexa hasn't those side effects. But also they are not perfect. Why? For example, patients who are treated with Zyprexa gain weight, and this is a major problem of our days, but not more important than diabetes and heart disease predisposition that it gives are.
Now a new generation schizophrenia medication is used now. This medications are Risperdal, Seroquel and Geodon. Till now, aren't known important side effects, but are very expensive.
It's certain that the new medications replaced the older one, but we still have to discover alternatives to them.
Visit my Schizophrenia website for more information on this subject. Also, don't forget to check out the Symptoms Of Schizophrenia page.
