Recently I heard that intermittent use of antipsychotic was just as effective
as continuous use for schizophrenia and other mood disorders? Is this true?
Antipsychotic drugs are useful for control of mood and behavior in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However the drugs do have potent adverse effects. Recently some experts have been suggestions that the drug therapy should be intermittent rather than continuous to avoid the adverse effects. The drugs should be discontinued when the patient is well and restarted if the symptoms occur.
However, a recent large study indicated that intermittent use of antipsychotic drugs is not effective and relapses are very common. In addition, when acute relapses occur, the police/ambulance have to be called and the patient taken to the ER and forced into treatment. Schizophrenics who relapse are not compliant and often have to be forcefully taken to the ER. This gets to be more expensive and creates additional havoc in the family. As of today, continuous use of antipsychotic is the name of the game and you should stick to this plan of management.
