What Types of Antipsychotic Medications Are There?
Conventional Antipsychotics Conventional antipsychotics have been available since the mid-1950’s and are the least costly of the schizophrenia medications. They were the first antipsychotic medications developed that effectively relieved psychotic symptoms, and allowed many people diagnosed with a mental illness who had been living in institutions to live in the community. Conventional antipsychotics can be effective in decreasing the symptoms of schizophrenia (hallucinations, delusions, and unusual behaviors); however, there are some people for whom they provide little relief. Adverse side effects associated with conventional antipsychotics include the following major movement disorders: Akathisia- subjective feelings of distress and discomfort, agitation, restlessness, frequent arm and leg movements, non-localized pain. Dystonia- sudden involuntary muscle contractions, bizarre and uncontrolled movements of face, neck, tongue and back, oculogyric crisis—often mistaken as seizure act
