Drug therapy: typical & atypical antipsychotics

Drug Therapy:

Antipsychotic drugs are the most common treatment for schizophrenia. They involve modifying/interfering with the action of neurotransmitters, in order to increase (agonists) or decrease (antagonists) their activity. Medication can be taken as pills, syrups or injections, and may be taken over a short or long-term.

Typical antipsychotic drugs, e.g. Chlropromazine

They act as dopamine antagonists, attempting to reduce dopamine activity. They block dopamine receptors on post-synaptic neurons, meaning that less dopamine is transmitted across the synapse. This has the effect of reducing dopamine production, and reduces positive symptoms such as hallucinations. Drugs such as Chlorpromazine also have a sedative effect, meaning that they calm patients down and reduce anxiety. As the drugs reduce dopamine activity, it results in a reduction of positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations. 

Atypical antipsychotic drugs, e.g. Clozapine 

Atypical antipsychotic drugs act upon neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Clozapine also binds to dopamine receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron reducing positive symptoms, such as hallucinations. They also act as agonists upon serotonin receptor sites, it is believed that this action reduces negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as a lack of emotions as it helps…