What is the difference between antidepressants and antipsychotics

The goal of TMS Therapy is to target areas of the brain that are under active in depression sufferers using repetitive magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms.

You can learn more about TMS Therapy , and whether it may be right for you on our blog. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression , you should contact your doctor to talk about your mental health and to discuss what treatment option may be best for you.

Contact the Signature Psychiatry office to speak with our staff and schedule an appointment to discuss your mental health. Thank you for subscribing. Your TMS Therapy brochure is on its way. Check your email shortly to download your PDF! National Institute of Mental Health Mental Health Medications. Mayo Clinic Antidepressants: Selecting one that's right for you. Antipsychotics are a class of drugs which are primarily used to treat psychotic disorders including hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and bipolar disorder by blocking a specific subtype of Dopamine 2 receptor, which is the chemical in our brain, responsible for controlling reward-driven learning.

Older antipsychotics, also known as conventional antipsychotics , have been created to block the D2 receptors in mesolimbic pathway thereby resulting in the improvement of positive symptoms.

Unfortunately, these types tend to block D2 receptors located in areas out of the mesolimbic pathway as well, leading to a worsening of negative symptoms associated with various mental conditions. Therefore, this conventional type of drugs including Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, Fluphenazine, etc. Antipsychotics are usually used to treat Schizophrenia , substance abuse cocaine and methamphetamine , stuttering, obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD , post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD , depression , bipolar disorder and other non-specific personality disorders.

The therapeutic benefits of antipsychotics will be achieved immediately-months depending on different drug types. As far as the main side effects of antipsychotics are considered, D2 receptor blocking agents can give rise to tremors, restlessness, muscle spasms, sexual dysfunction and rarely tardive dyskinesia repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements whereas atypical antipsychotics can result in unusual weight gain, diabetes, and disorders of lipid metabolism.

Olanzapine, an example of a second-generation antipsychotic. Rapid cycling is another side effect that is associated with antidepressant treatment in bipolar disorder. Antidepressants do not appear to be any more effective than mood stabilizers in treating bipolar depression. Side effects also vary widely in severity. Some side effects may make a person discontinue a medication while others are minor annoyances and worth living with given the positive effects of the medication.

Additionally, side effects do generally appear with zapmedication treatment before the positive effects of the medication but they also tend to decrease with time. If this happens, contact your doctor immediately as that is likely not the right medication for you. Additionally, experiencing new or worsening irritability, acting on dangerous impulses, experiencing an extreme increase of activity or talking or acting aggressively, being angry or violent should also be reported to your doctor immediately as they can be signs of mania.

Other side effects that can indicate a dangerous situation include hallucinations, high fever and high blood pressure. These may indicate a rare side effect known as serotonin syndrome. If your doctor has set up a schedule like that with you, make sure you follow it exactly. You may also have to take your medication at a specific time of day or with food — sometimes these instructions are for your comfort for example, to avoid stomach upset and other times are critical in making the medication work as intended.

Make sure you follow these instructions so the medication has the best chance to work for you. When you are taking medications, make sure you keep up on any lab tests ordered by your doctor and keep track of anything that may be of concern such as your weight or blood pressure.

If something like your lipid levels or weight starts to creep in the wrong way, talk to your doctor immediately. Fixing the problem can be as simple as changing the medication dose, schedule or other variables but you should only ever do that upon the advice of your doctor.

Do not ever suddenly stop taking your medication unless told to do so by your doctor.