Schizophrenia
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 6, 2024.
AMBULATORY CARE:
Schizophrenia
is a chronic mental disorder that affects your emotions, thoughts, and behavior. Your risk is higher if you have a family history of schizophrenia, are male, or are younger than 30 years. Exposure to certain substances before you were born, or use of mind-altering drugs as an adolescent also increase your risk.
Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia
may be triggered by stress, lack of sleep, or substance use. This is called a psychotic episode. Signs and symptoms may come and go, or get worse over time:
- Delusions are false ideas. You may believe that someone is spying on you, or that you are someone famous.
- Hallucinations are things you see, hear, feel, taste, or smell that seem real but are not.
- Disordered thinking and speech is moving from one subject to another in a way that does not make sense. You may make up your own words or sounds.
- Disorganized or abnormal movement can include a lot of movement or movement that is not necessary.
- Lack of drive or initiative includes avoiding family and friends, not keeping jobs, and not being able to function well.
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) or have someone call if:
- You think or talk about killing yourself or someone else.
Call your doctor or therapist or have someone call if:
- You are having signs or symptoms of schizophrenia.
- You are not able to sleep well, or are sleeping more than usual.
- You cannot eat or are eating more than usual.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
Treatment
usually includes both medicines and therapy:
- Medicines may be used to decrease psychotic episodes, severe agitation, or depression. Some medicines may help you feel more calm during psychotic episodes.
- Therapy is used to help you and your family learn to manage schizophrenia. You will learn how to handle symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. You may learn ways to interact with other people more effectively. Therapy may also be used to place you in a job that fits your skills to encourage independence and self-confidence.
Treatment options
The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
Manage schizophrenia:
Stress, lack of sleep, or substance use may trigger symptoms. This is called a psychotic episode. The following may help you prevent or manage psychotic episodes:
- Do not stop taking your medicines. Tell your healthcare provider or psychiatrist if you have any problems with or questions about your medicines.
- Do not stop your therapies. Tell your provider or psychiatrist if you are not comfortable or have questions about your therapies.
- Get regular sleep. Try to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Tell your provider or therapist if you are not able to sleep, or if you are sleeping too much.
- Do not drink alcohol or use cannabis (marijuana). Alcohol interacts with medicine used to treat schizophrenia. Marijuana can trigger or worsen a psychotic episode.
Follow up with your psychiatrist as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
For support and more information:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100
Arlington , VA 22203
Phone: 1- 703 - 524-7600
Phone: 1- 800 - 950-6264
Web Address: http://www.nami.org
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Office of Science Policy, Planning, and Communications
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6200, MSC 9663
Bethesda , MD 20892-9663
Phone: 1- 301 - 443-4513
Phone: 1- 866 - 615-6464
Web Address: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Learn more about Schizophrenia
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Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
