There are three classifications of antipsychotic medications: atypical antipsychotics, phenothiazine antipsychotics and thioxanthenes. The first type includes medications such as Zyprexa (generic: olanzapine) and Seroquel (generic: quetiapine). Phenothiazine antipsychotics include drugs such as Thorazine (generic: chlorpromazine) and Prolixin (generic: fluphenazine), and thioxanthene is sold under the brand name Navane (generic: thiothixene). All of these medications are used in the treatment of psychosis or a disassociation with reality, such as schizophrenia.
Visual Side Effects
Some types of antipsychotic medications can induce side effects that impair your vision. For example, your vision may get blurry or change from what is normal for you. You may suddenly have trouble seeing near or far objects, or your vision may darken and be impaired. Depending upon the type of medication used, blurry vision may be a temporary and non-serious side effect or it may be an indication of something more serious. Other serious side effects associated with some antipsychotics include an inability to move your eyes and eyelid spasms or blinking increases. Talk with your physician if you experience any problems with your eyes while taking antipsychotic medications.
Motion Side Effects
Taking antipsychotics may throw you off balance, a quite common side effect. Dizziness itself generally will be a temporary condition that will recede as you continue taking the medication. However, there also are other potential balance issues that may be more serious. For example, you may become clumsy or feel you are unsteady in your normal movements such as walking. You also may find you have problems trying to remain in one place or one position for long. Your typical movements also may be much slower than normal and you may walk with a shuffle. Your body may twist and you may find you move in uncontrolled ways, particularly in your back, neck and face. Shakiness in your feet, legs, hands and arms also may occur. You may twitch when taking antipsychotics, and you may make uncontrolled motions with your mouth that appear as if you are chewing. Not all of these types of common serious side effects are associated with all antipsychotic medicines. Tell your doctor if they occur, however.
Mental Side Effects
There are some unwanted effects of antipsychotics on your brain in addition to the expected ones. For example, you may feel restless when you take some antipsychotics, or you may get confused about basic things such as everyday tasks and situations. Tell your doctor about these problems as soon as possible. You may get agitated easily, especially when you first take an antipsychotic drug, or you may experience bizarre or abnormal dreams. These types of side effects should go away on their own after you acclimate to the medicine.
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