Brain Disorders

8 Pages 1993 Words

ir own side of Schizophrenia and the use of treatments to help the ease this problem. Schizophrenia has many different symptoms, some more noticeable than others. “The most noticeable symptoms a person is likely to have during an acute episode of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder or some bizarre behavior” (Long, 1). These symptoms can be reduced by the use of drugs. “Other symptoms more obvious during a less active stage, includes loss of energy, loss of interest toward anything, and the loss of a sense of humor and warmth toward people he/she knows” (Long, 2). Medications, however, don’t work as well to people with these symptoms. And that can make this problem even more difficult to the patient as well as the family to deal with. Drug use is crucial to people with schizophrenia to help maintain sanity. “The drugs are enhancers of the normal biochemical process within the body” (Long, 2) “Use of the drugs can either speed up certain effects and slow down others” (Long, 2). Meaning, they help regulate the speed of a person’s “working” brain. In The British Medical Journal says that the drugs Clorazine and Olanzapine are more effective than traditional antipsychotics and should be offered to patients who have not responded to other antipsychotics drugs. Clorazine helps a schizophrenic have fewer relapses, and also a much greater reduction in symptoms. “Olanzapine is very effective against antipsychotic behavior, much less sedation, and fewer extrapyramidal side effects” (McGrath, 4). The side effects of Clorazine are sedation, hypersalivation, weight gain, and an increased risk of convulsions at higher doses. Olanzapine has few sides as well t...