Educational reference
Treatment overview
Antipsychotic medicines are used more widely than the name suggests. Beyond conditions involving psychosis, several are used in bipolar conditions - for manic episodes, for some depressive episodes, and for longer-term stability - and some are used as an addition to antidepressants in depression that has not responded sufficiently.
They differ substantially from one another in effects and side-effect profile. Common considerations include sedation, weight and metabolic changes, and movement-related effects, which vary by medicine and by person. Monitoring - weight, blood tests, sometimes ECG - is a normal part of treatment.
Effects on agitation and sleep may appear within days; the fuller benefit typically takes longer.
Side effects are a legitimate reason to go back to a prescriber, and often lead to a change of medicine rather than abandoning treatment.
MOMD does not recommend any particular medicine and does not advise starting, stopping or changing treatment.