Medication choices
The principles of choice
This section contains general information relating to medication choices which may or may not be relevant to all service users. It is not intended to take the place of talking to your healthcare professional (HCP) and should you have any further concerns/questions, please seek medical advice from your HCP as soon as possible.
Exercising choice in medication is not just about choosing which type of medication to use. Real choice is about service users, carers and HCPs building a framework based on openness, honesty and equality on all sides, based on some key principles of choice.
- Medication for schizophrenia
- Medication for bipolar disorder
- Dose and administration
When choosing a medication, it is important to consider the possible effects on all aspects of the person's life.
Medication for schizophrenia
There are a number of different treatments used to treat schizophrenia. One of the types of medication that may be offered is called 'antipsychotics'. There are two types of antipsychotics - typical and atypical.
Antipsychotics generally may help in controlling symptoms including hearing voices (hallucinations) and feeling controlled (delusions). Medication is only part of a comprehensive package of care from which a service user can benefit.
You can find information about the treatments and management of schizophrenia by accessing the following links:
NICE website
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence - An independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health.
www.nice.org.uk
NHS Direct
NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
See links to medication discussions in Power Questions
Medication for bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is treated with a range of medications. There are different types of medications available ranging from mood stabilisers to atypical antipsychotics. The most common mood stabiliser is lithium1 although others are available. A service user's HCP can advise on what would be the most appropriate medication.
Links to useful websites
NICE website
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence - An independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health. The latest bipolar guidelines are linked here:
http://guidance.nice.org.uk/cg38/publicinfo/pdf/English
Bipolar Aware
Dose and administration
The dose required will depend on the type of medication prescribed, and the HCP will know the recommended dose for each medication. HCPs should work with service users to find the effective dose. Generally and in most cases the dose that keeps the service user stable is best.
Most service users choose to take medication orally i.e. via the mouth, for example, as a tablet or capsule. However, they may choose to have regular injections of a long-acting medications.
References
1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE): The management of bipolar disorder in adults, children and adolescents, in primary and secondary care CG38. London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2006.
