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Understanding Antidepressants and Antipsychotics
Living with a treatable mental health condition doesn't have to hold you back. With the right support and treatment, you can achieve a better quality of life.
Antidepressants
Understanding Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are not one-size-fits-all conditions. Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness or loss, lack of interest, sleep changes, difficulty thinking, and more. Symptoms of anxiety include worrying, difficulty focusing, feeling tense or restless, feeling irritable, panicking, and more. Both depression and anxiety can cause sleep changes and stomach issues.
If you are currently taking prescribed antidepressants, your doctor may recommend therapy or support groups to help improve your quality of life.
What are Antidepressants?
Antidepressants help regulate your mood and behavior. They're commonly used to treat depression and anxiety in adults.
Common Antidepressant Medications
Amitriptyline, bupropion, citalopram, doxepin, escitalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone, and venlafaxine treat depression, while duloxetine and venlafaxine treat anxiety. Mirtazapine and trazodone are also commonly used for sleep.
Common Antidepressant Side Effects
Common side effects to watch for include stomach upset, weight gain, worrying, sleep problems, and sexual problems. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor for tips on taking your medication effectively to reduce the risk of unwanted effects. If you have tried ways to prevent side effects and are still experiencing them, another medication may be better for you with less reactions.
Taking Antidepressants
Antidepressants can take 8-12 weeks to start working before you see improvement in your symptoms. Continue taking the prescribed dose as instructed by your doctor. If a medication doesn't work for you, do not suddenly stop taking it. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about slowly reducing your medication dose and choosing other treatment options that may work better for you.
Antipsychotics
Understanding Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings, while schizophrenia makes it difficult to think clearly and manage emotions. Symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations, and negative emotional symptoms. Some people may have symptoms of both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The same type of medication treats both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Common Antipsychotic Medications
Aripiprazole, chlorpromazine, clozapine, haloperidol, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone are some of the most common medications used.
Common Antipsychotic Side Effects
Common side effects to watch for include tremors and muscles stiffness (typically seen with older antipsychotics not commonly prescribed anymore), weight gain, high blood sugar (diabetes), dry mouth, constipation, sleepiness, and low blood pressure when standing up. Talk to your pharmacist for tips on taking your medication effectively to reduce the risk of unwanted effects. If you have tried ways to prevent side effects and are still experiencing them, another medication may be better for you with less reactions.
Taking Antipsychotics
While taking antipsychotics, you may not notice results until at least 6 six weeks, but you should continue your medication to see the full improvement of symptoms. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you experience side effects. Don't abruptly discontinue your medication – taper off with your doctor's help if needed. Make sure to get your blood sugar tested each year while taking antipsychotic medications.
Medication Tips for Both Antidepressants and Antipsychotics
To get the most out of your medication, continue taking it as prescribed. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about side effects or changes. Ask your pharmacist about automatic refills so that your medication will be ready without having to call ahead or wait at the pharmacy. Also, ask your pharmacist about medication synchronization, which reduces your trips to the pharmacy by allowing you to pick up your medications on the same day. Or consider a 90-day supply after the first month, if the medication is working for you.
Transportation Help
If you are unable to pick up your medications due to transportation challenges, ask your local pharmacy if it offers local delivery. If you would rather receive your medications in the mail, you can switch your medications to mail-order by logging in to Blueprint Portal, clicking pharmacy, and selecting pharmacy center to choose which medications you want delivered by mail. You can also call 800-969-3983 to begin receiving mail-order prescriptions.
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