Clozapine Research Paper

Antipsychotics are medications that physicians use to treat psychotic disorders such as Schizophrenia, Delusional disorder, Paraphrenia, and Substance-induced psychotic disorders. These disorders are characterised by the patient’s inability to make good judgments, think with a clear head, communicate effectively, relate to society, and understand reality. Antipsychotic drugs are also useful in the treatment of bipolar conditions that involve extreme cases of manic behaviour. Examples of these drugs include Thorazine and Trilafon. These drugs belong to a drug class called phenothiazines. They work by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain. The drugs can be beneficial, however, Steen et al. (2014) argue that the medicines have several harmful effects such as changes

In 1955, antipsychotic medications were introduced to help mental disorders. These medications are usually taken orally in which help relieve symptoms for periods of days. The misuse or abuse of the medications are low. There are three generations of antipsychotic medications. The first generation is known for reducing hallucinations and delusions, but not affecting problems like disorientation or depression. An example would be chlorpromazine, brand name being Thorazine. Some negative side effects of taking the first generation drugs are Parkinson’s-like symptoms, tardive dyskinesia, and weight gain. Next, the second generation drugs minimized the outcome of the individual getting Parkinson’s-like symptoms. An example of this generation would be Clozaril. “A unique feature of Clozaril is the 1 to 2 percent chance of developing a potentially lethal blood disease called agranulocytosis” (Levinthal 282). This disease decreases white blood cells and affects the immune system. If early signs of this disease start to appear the patient will stop taking Clozaril and recover. Lastly, the third generation has shown to be the most effective on schizophrenia. Abilify is an example of this generation drug. It does not have a risk of Parkinson’s, tardive dyskinesia, or diabetes. Abilify blocks specific serotonin receptors in which prevents negative side effects from happening. These different

Antipsychotic drugs such lithium is one that is commonly prescribed to help reduce anger, threatening behavior, outbursts, and combativeness in ASPD. It alters sodium transport and inhibits neuronal signaling that dials down the activity of hyperactive circuits involved in producing mania (Vallerand, Sanoski, & Deglin, 2017). Lithium dosage is PO in tablets or capsules at 300-600mg TID for adults but precise dosing is based on serum lithium levels. Side effects include polyuria, polydipsia, diarrhea, mild ataxia, leukocytosis, renal toxicity, drowsiness, and weight gain.

Antipsychotics are generally used to treat psychosis in mental disorders. These disorders include schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (Thyssen et al., 2010). Risperidone is known as an atypical second generation antipsychotic and used in the treatment of a multitude of disorders. This medication can often challenge behavioral problems that are associated with schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Schatzberg & Nemeroff, 2013). It is important for the prescriber to be aware of the side effect and any possible adverse reactions that may occur. There can be many detrimental side effects that someone may not enjoy,

Carbamazepine. Carbamazepine is another anticonvulsant drug that is widely used as a mood stabilizer; however, it is not approved by the FDA as a mood stabilizer (Sinacola & Peters-Strickland, 2012). Common side effects of Carbamazepine include rashes, dizziness, and fatigue. In addition to the other drugs mentioned, carbamazepine also requires testing with its use because it may increase the risk of agranulocytosis. However, it is rare with proper monitoring by the

In 1995, Depakote was approved by the FDA for the treatment of bipolar disorder and is slowing becoming the most widely prescribed drug for the use on mania. Depakote hasn't totally replaced lithium; however, it is being used on patients that were not previously treatable with lithium. Compared with lithium, Depakote doesn't have all the bad side effects when properly administered. Patients taking Depakote find their thinking is clearer and don't seems to have the kidney and thyroid problems (Burns 104-106). The antipsychotic drug Clozaril also has been used to stabilize the moods of bipolar disorders, especially those that have not responded to lithium and the anticonvulsants. One major side effect of Clozaril is that is suppresses the production of white blood cells on about 1% of patients (Harvard Mental Health Letter, June 1997). Because of this side effect, doctors have to be extremely careful when prescribing.

There are three different types of antidepressants; SSRIS, SNRIS, and Tricyclics (Steven M. Melemis, PH.D.M.D.). This shows that the same antidepressant medication doesn't work for everyone, however, there hope because they can always try a different type. Research shows,”Antidepressants are designed to block various aspects of the synaptic transmission process in serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine-containing neurons in the brain. This increases the levels of these neurotransmitters. By increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters, mood and emotions should stabilize and perhaps return to normal” (Craig Freudenrich, PH.D.). This piece of evidence proves that antidepressants can help a person cope with their emotions by reducing the negative chemicals and increasing the neurotransmitters in a person's brain. Even though antidepressants can be very successful at treating depression, there are still some side effects that

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder, is defined as “a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks” (1). According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, this disorder affects approximately 5.7 million people age 18 and older in the United States annually (2). There are a few different categories of this disorder including Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, and Cyclothymic

Advokat, C.D., Comaty, J.E., & Julien, R.M. (2014). Julien’s primer of drug interaction. A comprehensive guide to the actions, uses, and side effects of psychoactive drugs (13th Ed.). Worth Publishers; New York.

Diamond in chapters 4, 7 and 9, looks at antipsychotic medications, medications useful for anxiety disorders and sleep problems and medication for people with borderline personality disorder respectively. Antipsychotic medications are profiled as second generation or first generation. Among the identified second generation antipsychotic medications are clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, aripiprazole and paliperidone. Clozapine is considered tpo be the most effective antipsychotic drug and has been proven effective as a mood stabilizer in treating “bipolar disorders that have not responded to mood stabilizers” (p. 72). Clozapine has side effects including those of weight gain, metabolic syndrome and increased risk

Controlled medication definition: A controlled medication is something defined by the Federal Government, through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Controlled medications include treatments for anxiety (like Valium and Ativan), for pain (like Oxycontin), and for ADHD (like Ritalin or Adderall)

Antipsychotic drugs are classified as either typical or atypical, based on their relative potency and side-effects. This classification is usually substituted with referring to typical as first generation and atypical as second generation, due to atypicals comparatively safer side-effects. However, it has been argued that due to the severe side-effects of both, the amount individual variation between psychotic patients, the patient’s tolerance to individual drugs, and the fact that antipsychotics treat symptoms rather than the psychosis, it might be better to class the drugs in regards to their mechanisms rather than their relative potencies [6][7]. Typical antipsychotics antagonise the D2 receptors and atypical antipsychotics target the D2 receptors among others (e.g. D3 and 5HT2 receptors).

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that is identified by one having extreme swings in mood, energy and the ability to function in everyday life. When it comes to the

This drug is used as an antidepressant. Anxiety, dizziness, blurred vision, dry mouth, diarrhea, and weight gain or loss are common effects of the medications and with aging. But serious effects such as fever; seizures, tremors, chest pain, hepatic necrosis, renal failure, abnormal bleeding, and infection should be cautioned. The dosage of this medication should not be prescribed more than 40 mg daily. Monitoring for mental changes when taking this medication is needed. It should be cautioned to watch for a change in behavior from depression into a mental illness. If this occurs medical attention is needed. Nurses should also assess elderly patients taking diuretics for signs of suggesting syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic