Oral Anti-psychotic drugs
The drugs used to relieve the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusion, are known as anti-psychotic drugs. They also relieve other psychological symptoms such as agitation, mania and anxiety without impairing consciousness. Such symptoms occur in other serious mental health disorders.
These drugs are often described in two groups - older anti-psychotic drugs (conventional drugs in use for many years) and newer or atypical anti-psychotic drugs.
| Older drugs | Newer drugs |
|---|---|
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These drugs are listed by their generic names, not their brand or trade names.
Each generic drug may have several different proprietary names. These can be cross - referenced using the British National Formulary.
Some generic and proprietary names of the drugs are:
Generic Proprietary
- Olanzapine Zyprexa
- Quetiapine Seroquel
- Amisulpride Solian
- Chlorpromazine Largactil
- Sertindole Serdolect
- Flupentixol Depixol
- Fluphenazine Modecate, Moditen
- Haloperidol Haldol, Serenace
- Risperidone Risperidol
- Zuclopenthixol Clopixol
- Clozapine Clozaril
- Perphenazine Fentazin
- Pimozide Orap
- Prochlorperazine Stemetil
- Sulpiride Dolmatil, Sulpitil, Sulpor
- Trifluoperazine Stelazine
- Zotepine Zoleptil
- Pipotiazine Piportil depot
At the present time people with newly diagnosed schizophrenia are usually treated with the newer atypical anti-psychotic drugs. People on long-term treatment with the conventional drugs may be changed to the newer agents, if their symptoms have failed to respond satisfactorily or they suffer unacceptable side effects. Advice on prescribing in schizophrenia is issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE is part of the National Health Service, and its role is to provide guidance on best practice in health care. Varying combinations of new and older drugs will be encountered in claims for schizophrenia as described above.
The following drugs might be prescribed for a person with mild functional restriction in small doses taken by mouth.
- Olanzapine Up to10mg daily
- Risperidone 1mg twice a day
- Quetiapine 150 – 250mg twice a day
- Amisulpride 200mg twice a day
- Chlorpromazine 25mg - 99mg daily
The following drugs may be prescribed for a person with moderate functional restriction when taken by mouth.
- Olanzapine 11 - 20mg daily
- Risperidone 4 - 6mg daily
- Quetiapine 300 – 450mg daily (max 750mg daily)
- Amisulpride 400 – 500mg daily (max 1200mg daily)
- Sertindole 12 – 20mg daily
- Chlorpromazine 100mg or more daily (300mg to I g daily)
Note: Whilst the level of medication may be helpful, it should not be used on its own to determine the level of functional restriction.
Clozapine (Clozaril)
Treatment with a drug called clozapine (brand name Clozaril) is likely to indicate severe functional restriction. Clozapine is one of the newer atypical anti-psychotic drugs that are only used if the condition has failed to respond to other drugs. Its use is restricted because it may have serious effects on the blood. Initially the person is required to have a weekly blood test to monitor any adverse effects.
Amended December 2010
