WHAT DO ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS DO?
Antipsychotic medications work by changing the balance of chemicals in the brain. There are two major types of antipsychotics: traditional antipsychotics and newer antipsychotics. Traditional Antipsychotics The traditional antipsychotic medications control the positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, confusion) of schizophrenia very effectively. Researchers believe that part of this effect may be explained by the way these medications affect the brain chemical dopamine. This group of medications seems to block dopamine type 2 receptors from taking up the information carried by dopamine. Dopamine regulates many normal body functions, including movement, emotions, behavior, and appetite. Many of these functions are affected in people with schizophrenia. Some researchers think that the positive symptoms of schizophrenia-delusions, hallucinations, and confusion-may be caused by too much dopamine in the brain (or very sensitive dopamine receptors). Even though typical antipsychotics do
