Psychiatric Medications: Adverse Effects and Prevention

Introduction:

Many people worry about the addiction that the usage of psychiatric medications might cause. This worry may be due to the instructions not to stop these medications suddenly without informing the mental healthcare professional. These instructions are given to avoid the withdrawal effects of the drugs.

What Are Psychiatric Medications?

Mental health is critical. If any mental health conditions are present, they should be treated. This improves the quality of life of an individual. These can be treated with psychiatric medications. Psychiatric medications are also known as psychotropic medications. Many myths are related to these medications, their effectiveness, and their usage.

Some individuals think that the usage of psychotropic drugs may cause addiction, as well as believe that their mental health issue symptoms may get worse. These myths can increase the attitude toward anti-treatment, and they may discontinue the treatment.

Psychiatric medications alter the chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain. They also act by blocking and increasing the levels of these chemicals. The standard psychiatric drugs are:

Antidepressants: Around 68.7 % of mental health conditions are treated with this type of drug. These medications do not cause addiction, but they may pose physical dependency. These are discontinuation symptoms while stopping or reducing the dosage of medicines.

Anxiolytics: These are also called tranquilizers or anti anxieties. They help relieve anxiety, stop panic attacks, and it helps improve sleep. They risk developing addiction due to their sedative and anxiolytic nature. Hence these medications are prescribed for a short duration.

Antipsychotics: These are used in cases of schizophrenia and bipolar disease.

Mood Stabilizers: These mainly include lithium and anticonvulsants.

Sedatives: These sedatives and hypnotics are also known as sleeping pills. These also tend to develop an addiction if used for a long duration.

Stimulants: These are used in attention deficit disorders to narcolepsy. Even these medications pose a risk of addiction. However, all medicines have side effects. Hence it is vital to understand all the drugs.

What Is Addiction?

Addiction is a persistent and recurrent condition marked by an individual's compulsive pursuit and consumption of a substance, even in the face of detrimental consequences. Intense urges, obsessions, loss of control, and behavior characterize addictive behavior. These behaviors try to satisfy the addiction.

This brain disorder can be developed by practical use or prescription use. When the usage of the drug becomes more frequent may develop into addiction. The risk and pace of addiction vary depending on the drug.

Are Psychotropic Medications Addictive?

All psychotropic medications are not addictive. Except for anxiolytics, hypnotics, and stimulants, all other psychotropic drugs are not addictive. These medications do not create dependency. Their dosage may have to be increased over time for the same effects. These do not develop cravings for their use. Psychotropic medications may cause withdrawal symptoms when they are discontinued suddenly. It is known as discontinuation syndrome.

The symptoms during the withdrawal of these medications include,

• Dizziness.

• Pain in the head.

• Fatigue.

• Feel nausea.

• Experience sweating.

• Sleeplessness.

• Feeling restless.

• Disturbance in the mood.

These symptoms may appear initially after stopping or reducing the dosage. They remain for a few weeks and end. This phase is temporary and should not be mistaken for addiction. Always consulting healthcare professionals to change or stop these psychotropic medications is a must and should be done based on their opinions.

How Do Psychotropic Drugs Affect the Body?

Psychotropic medications alter the chemicals in the brain to help change mood, perception of reality, behavior, and consciousness. Unlike all other medicines, psychotropic drugs have side effects classified into short-term or long-term, or psychoactive or psychiatric.

Psychotropic medications can improve or worsen mental health functioning depending on how much or intensely affect serotonin (neurotransmitter) levels. When there is a change in the brain, there is a change in the body too.

Some psychotropic drugs may lead to abuse or addiction though they are harmless. When a person faces addiction, they are posed with problems. These people risk side effects, acute physical harm, and chronic health problems.

Physical Changes of Psychotropic Medications:

These medications pose physical changes that affect an individual's life profoundly.

Antianxiety Drugs: These include benzodiazepines acting on GABA ( gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors in the brain. When given in therapeutic doses, it helps treat anxiety and panic disorders. If provided for the long term may pose addiction and physical side effects like

• The feeling of nausea.

• The blurring of vision.

• Lightheadedness and vertigo.

• Pain in the head.

• Tiredness.

• Changes in the metabolism of the body.

• Putting on weight.

• Experiencing constipation.

• Dryness of the mouth.

Antipsychotics: The changes observed with the use of antipsychotics are:

• Weight gain by altering the metabolism.

• Tremors can be observed.

• Spasms of muscles.

• Experience restlessness.

• Tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements of arm, legs, tongue, lip, and mouth).

Antidepressants: Some antidepressants pose serious interactions with food. Individuals using these drugs should limit their diet.

• Weight gain.

• Constipation.

• Dryness of mouth.

• Changes in the metabolism.

How to Prevent Getting Addicted to Psychotropic Medications?

Prevention from addiction to psychotropic drugs may be achieved by

• Being honest to one's self and to the doctor.

• Tracking the usage by entering or noting it down in a diary.

• Taking only what is given by the doctor. If taking extra, consulting with a doctor is a must.

• Not to get multiple scripts from a doctor. It may confuse the individual to take medications.

• Medications should be monitored closely by a partner or family member if the person affected has an addiction.

Conclusion:

Mental health is essential in life. Mental health is always neglected when compared to physical health. It should not be ignored and must be treated. Psychotropic drugs are used for mental health issues to treat. Therefore, it is crucial to have knowledge about these medications, including their purposes, potential side effects, withdrawal symptoms, strategies for preventing addiction, and determining whether they have addictive properties or not. Understanding these drugs help one to deal with these medications and seek help from a healthcare provider early. Early diagnosis achieves effective treatment. This, in turn, helps an individual to achieve a good quality of life.