Therapeutic Uses and Side Effects

Psychopharmacology is the study of the use of drugs to treat mental disorders. It covers both the natural and synthetic drugs used to modify behaviour in mentally ill patients. Now every drug has its negative and positive effects on the body. 

Therapeutic uses and side effects are essential information to know before taking a drug. It is necessary because it allows you to make the best decision possible. You don’t want to put yourself in danger while at the same time benefiting from the benefits of that drug.

What is Psychopharmacology?

Psychopharmacology is a branch of science that deals with the use of drugs in treating mental disorders. It includes the study of both naturals, synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs that influence behaviour. In psychopharmacology, we deal with two major concerns: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Pharmacokinetics 

The word pharmacokinetics refers to what happens to the drug after it has been given and has reached the body. It involves all that occurs in the body before reaching its target organ, how rapidly it gets its target organ, how long it stays in that organ, and how quickly and ultimately it is excreted from the body. The main issues are absorption (how fast and complete), distribution, metabolism (how fast), and elimination (how quickly).

Pharmacodynamics

The word pharmacodynamics deals with the influence of a drug on the body. This is a study of what happens to the body after taking the medication. It is concerned with those things that occur inside the body when taking a drug. These include all the interactions of medications with chemical systems found within the body, leading to therapeutic effects or adverse (side) effects on organs, tissues, and cells.

Therapeutic uses of Psychopharmacology Drugs

Therapeutic uses are those uses of drugs that are geared towards curing the patient. The remedies or medicines used in psychopharmacology have various medicinal uses that vary depending on the condition being treated, the ages and gender of the patient, and other factors like culture and ethnicity. Therapeutic drugs are available for different mental disorders in the form of:

4. Antidepressants – These relieve depressive conditions, especially mood disorders such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). They also relieve symptoms associated with depression and mania. Antidepressants do not deal with psychosis, although some antipsychotics may be prescribed to manage psychotic depression or schizophrenia.
5. Antipsychotics – These are used to treat psychosis. They also control or alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia and a range of other conditions.
6. Anticonvulsants – These are prescribed for epilepsy and other seizure disorders. They are also used to manage mood disorders and psychotic conditions such as mania and bipolar disorder, though antidepressants may also be prescribed.
7. Anxiolytics – These are prescribed to help treat anxiety associated with anxiety disorders (such as panic disorder). They are also used to alleviate symptoms of anxiety associated with depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). 

Side Effects of Psychopharmacology Drugs

Side effects are caused by the drug when it enters the body and is metabolised. Different side effects or a medication allergy depend on the drug used. Some common types of side effects include:

Toxicity 

Toxicity refers to damage to tissues caused by the drug. It is usually through a direct or indirect effect that occurs when a medication is taken or taken with other drugs and poisons and toxins (which cause toxicity). The common symptoms of toxicity include:

• Nausea/vomiting
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia)
• Changes in blood pressure
• Mood swings, anxiety, irritability and fatigue

Insomnia 

This is caused when a drug is taken before bedtime or causes the brain to become active and increases the inability to sleep. 

Tinnitus 

This is known as “ringing in the ears” and occurs when a drug has been metabolised by the body to create a toxic substance that causes something to vibrate in the part of the ear. It can also cause hearing loss.

Dry Mouth 

This is caused when a drug dries up saliva production in the mouth, leading to limited saliva movement during swallowing and thus affecting the gut motility (movement of food through the intestines). 

Weight Gain 

This is caused when a drug increases the appetite and thus encourages weight gain in the patient.

Constipation 

This occurs when there is an accumulation of waste products in the lower part of the intestines and constriction of the bowel, leading to difficulty in bowel movement.

Heart Palpitations 

This happens when a drug causes irregular heartbeats that are not within standard frequencies, leading to an imbalance in heart rhythm and potentially causing death or permanent damage to other organs such as the liver.

Drowsiness 

It refers to being sleepy, dizzy or less alert than usual, when drugs cause abnormal brain activity or sedation with sleep-inducing properties.

Conclusion

While these both affect human functioning, side effects are more likely to be negative consequences of a drug and positive therapeutic outcomes. Once you’re aware of some Therapeutic and Side effects, you will be able to make the best decisions for your own sake or that of your loved ones. This is because being aware allows you to make informed choices about whether or not to take a drug, meaning that you will avoid any harmful consequences. This may involve talking to your doctor about which medicines are right for you and avoiding any drugs with known harmful side effects.