How Effective Are Antipsychotic Medications?
In many people, antipsychotic medication effectively treats the symptoms of psychosis, but does not cure the illness. Antipsychotic medications have been available since the 1950s and have allowed many people with psychosis to lead more fulfilling, productive lives by alleviating symptoms. The same antipsychotic medication may affect different people differently. The degree to which symptoms are alleviated, or the length of time it takes for the medication to act on the symptoms, may vary from one person to another. Many people, however, will experience significant relief from symptoms by the sixth week of treatment. If there is no improvement, the doctor may decide to either adjust the dosage or try an alternate medication. It’s not unusual that an individual may need to try more than one medication before finding the one that is most effective and causes the fewest side effects. Once the person is feeling better, there is often a temptation to stop taking the medication. This should
