They can cause movement disorders such as twitching and restlessness, sedation and weight gain, and lead to diabetes.
Both typical and atypical antipsychotics commonly cause side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, constipation, nausea, and vomiting, per the NIMH. These often go away. But the drugs can also cause serious long-term side effects.
Antipsychotics can cause the very symptoms they relieve, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, poorer cognition, agitation, mania, insomnia, and abnormal movements.
What happens if a normal person takes olanzapine? Olanzapine is prescribed for people who have chronic schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In ordinary people, intake of olanzapine increases weight by at least 2–3 kgs over six weeks. Other side effects include dry mouth, tremors, restlessness, and muscle contractions.
Previous research has also shown that the use of antipsychotics may raise the risk of metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia. Metabolic syndrome has, in turn, been associated with heart disease and diabetes.
Amongst the many adverse effects of the first generation, or 'typical' antipsychotics, the most disturbing was Tardive Dyskinesia, which involves uncontrollable movements of face, hands and feet [2].
Of the atypical antipsychotics, risperidone is the weakest in terms of atypicality criteria.
Second-generation antipsychotics, such as quetiapine and olanzapine, are often abuse for their sedative and anxiolytic effects. Addicts seek out the calming and hallucinogenic effects caused by quetiapine and olanzapine.
For neurological, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and metabolic abnormalities of cerebral function, in fact, there is evidence suggesting that antipsychotic medications decrease the abnormalities and return the brain to more normal function.
Olanzapine is considered moderately toxic in overdose, more toxic than quetiapine, aripiprazole, and the SSRIs, and less toxic than the monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants.
People with anxiety and mood disorders may benefit from taking antipsychotics in addition to antidepressants or mood stabilizers. When used in this way, antipsychotics may help to control symptoms such as irritable or depressed mood, disorganized thinking, and trouble concentrating and remembering.
The single most significant reason why individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder fail to take their medication is because of their lack of awareness of their illness (anosognosia). Other important reasons are concurrent alcohol or drug abuse; costs; and a poor relationship between psychiatrist and patient.
Some people may be able to stop taking antipsychotics without problems, but others can find it very difficult. If you have been taking them for some time, it can be more difficult to come off them. This is especially if you have been taking them for one year or longer.
Factor analysis of these items revealed three main effects of antipsychotic medication related to doubt and self-doubt, cognitive and emotional numbing, and social withdrawal. Antipsychotic treatment appears to be connected to a number of negative subjective effects on cognition and emotion.
Evidence of the rapidity at which antipsychotics can affect brain volume in humans was recently provided by Tost and associates. These investigators found a significant, reversible decrease in striatal volume in healthy subjects within 2 hours after they were treated intravenously with haloperidol.
Some people need to keep taking it long term. If you have only had one psychotic episode and you have recovered well, you would normally need to continue treatment for 1–2 years after recovery. If you have another psychotic episode, you may need to take antipsychotic medication for longer, up to 5 years.
If drugs are stopped too quickly, people can get withdrawal symptoms (which for antipsychotics can include insomnia, tremors and sometimes psychotic symptoms) or can be de-stabilised by the process of coming off.
If you stop antipsychotics suddenly it can cause 'rebound psychosis'. This means that the symptoms of your illness return suddenly, and you may become unwell again. This is also known as 'relapse'. If you or your family or friends think you are becoming unwell again, you should speak to your doctor.
This is consistent with the reports from case studies. Two of the published case studies describe a euphoric feeling or a 'high' from olanzapine. A quarter of those who engaged in NMU of olanzapine used it to 'get stoned'.
It's an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depressions, but it's also known among inmates for its sleep-causing effects. Referred to as “baby heroin,” “Suzie Q” and other names, quetiapine can be crushed and snorted.
Although hypersexuality has been acknowledged as a possible side effect of antipsychotic treatment with partial dopamine agonists, including aripiprazole, only very few cases of olanzapine-associated hypersexuality have been reported in the literature.
Haldol (haloperidol) and Thorazine (chlorpromazine) are the best known typical antipsychotics. They continue to be useful in the treatment of severe psychosis and behavioral problems when newer medications are ineffective.
It's common to experience these side-effects while taking antipsychotics: Stiffness and shakiness. Feeling sluggish and slow in your thinking.