Psychotropic medications are used to treat psychiatric disorders. Psychotropics include antidepressants such as fluoxetine, antipsychotics such as Haloperidol, and anxiolytics such as Valium. Despite the array of potential side effects, several general types of side effects can be caused by psychotropics.
Psychiatric Side Effects
Antidepressants can lead to an increase in suicidal thoughts, in particular when a person starts taking them. They can also induce mania, which is a state of excitation with reduced sleep and increased energy. Both antidepressants and antipsychotics can cause restlessness and agitation.
Anxiolytics such as Valium tend to cause memory difficulties, confusion and drowsiness. Drowsiness is a common side effect of many other psychotropics, for example tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, and antipsychotics such as olanzapine. Clozapine, which is considered the most effective antipsychotic for patients with schizophrenia who haven't responded to other medications, often causes severe sedation.
Neurological Side Effects
Older generation antipsychotics, which are used to treat both agitation and psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia, tend to cause a degree of neurological side effects. According to "Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psyhciatry," acute effects include dystonia, meaning acute spasm of the muscles, which can prevent the patient from opening his jaws. Parkinsonism is another common side effect, and refers to tremor and rigidity, similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease patients. Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder consisting of involuntary constant movements, often of the mouth and tongue. It appears after long-term treatment with antipsychotics, and is irreversible. Both antipsychotics and antidepressants can cause akathisia, which is a sense of internal discomfort accompanied by repetitive movements such as pacing.
Metabolic Side Effects
Atypical antipsychotics, such as olanzapine, are especially prone to cause metabolic side effects, which increase the risk for coronary artery disease. These include diabetes, elevated lipids and obesity. Patients with severe mental illness often have a difficult time maintaining a healthful lifestyle, and because they often require lifelong treatment with atypical antipsychotics, weight, lipid levels and fasting glucose should be monitored regularly.
Other Physical Side Effects
Antidepressants that are serotonin specific re-uptake inhibitors, such as Prozac, often cause impotence. Lamotrigine, which is used in patients with mood disorders, can lead to a fatal rash called Stevens Johnson's syndrome. Valproate, an anticonvulsant medication used as a mood stabilizer, can cause hepatitis, and rarely, pancreatitis. Lithium, which is considered the best medication for treatment of bipolar disorder, can cause hypothyroidism, kidney damage and disturbances in the heart rate. When taking lithium, thyroid and kidney functions need to be monitored regularly.
References
- "Goodman and Gilman's Manual of Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; Laurence Brunton et al.; 2007
- "Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry"; Virginia Sadock and Pedro Ruiz; 2009
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