Medication & Therapy

Learn about the different medications used to treat schizophrenia, their potential side effects, and how to help a loved one stick to a treatment plan.

In schizophrenia, antipsychotic medications are proven effective in treating acute psychosis and reducing the risk of future psychotic episodes.

Each person responds differently to the medications used for schizophrenia, and it may take time to get various symptoms under control.

Long-lasting drugs, which your doctor may call long-acting injectables, improve symptoms the same way as pills called antipsychotics.

Antipsychotic drugs help keep your schizophrenia under control and prevent symptoms. But these medicines sometimes don't mix well with other drugs you take.

Doctors use electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to treat severe depression. Sometimes, they also use it to treat other mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Psychotherapy, a kind of talk therapy, will likely also be a part of your schizophrenia treatment plan to help you understand and manage your symptoms.

Among the health professionals who treat mental illnesses are psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care doctors, and social workers.

Currently, schizophrenia cannot be cured, but the outlook for people suffering from this illness is constantly improving.

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