the mainstay treatment for schizophrenia is antipsychotic drugs medications that work to alter brain chemistry. older antipsychotic drugs including thorazine haldol and prolixin worked well but were fraught with side effects including persistent muscle spasms tremors and muscle rigidity. a new class of drugs known as “atypical antipsychotic medicines” includes abilify geodon risperdal seroquel and zyprexa. these newer drugs are linked to weight gain and may increase the risk of diabetes. most patients respond to antipsychotic drugs quickly with hallucinations improving within days and delusions under control within a few weeks. most symptoms substantially improve after a few weeks of treatment.
how is schizophrenia treated?