Use of Psychotropic Drugs | Essay

Running Head: PSYCHOTROPHIC DRUGS 1
Use of Psychotropic Drugs
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PSYCHOTROPHIC DRUGS 2
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Introduction
Psychotropic are regarded as essential drugs that are vital for the treatment of
mental illnesses, especially for patients who exhibit abnormal behavior. Psychotropic
drugs are, therefore, an extensive range of medicines that affect the behavior, mood,
and thoughts of a person. They include some medications which are prescribed and
others that are commonly abused. Psychotropic drugs are mainly classified into five
categories, which include; anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood
stabilizers, and stimulants (Cousins et al., 2017). The psychotropic medication
function by changing the neurotransmitters in the brain of an individual and hence
altering the symptoms of a person with a mental illness. Despite their extensive usage
in the treatment of mental illnesses, the drugs have caused a lot of debate about their
effectiveness as well as safety issues. Some researchers, therefore, advocate for the
complete abolition of these drugs since they have serious side effects on users. This

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paper, therefore, discusses the controversies regarding the use of psychotropic
medications in the treatment of people with a mental health condition based on
literature from various sources. The article also discusses the challenges faced by
registered nurses who administer psychotropic drugs to patients who exhibit violent
behavior.
Controversies regarding the use of psychotropic medications
Various studies have been conducted regarding the effectiveness of psychotropic
drugs in the treatment of mental illnesses. According to Montejo et al., (2018),
psychiatric medications are very useful in the treatment of mental health conditions.
He argues that the use of these drugs is beneficial in helping to control sleep
disorders. Many patients experiencing anxiety disorders find it difficult to sleep, and
without the use of medicine, they can spend even days without sleeping. This is very
dangerous since it can lead to further deterioration in the mental health of a patient.
This is where the importance of psychotropic drugs is witnessed. In a survey carried
out among 106 patients who had used psychotropic drugs, approximately 69%
indicated that the use of drugs helped them to improve their sleeping patterns. They
reported that this helped in calming them down, and they were feeling calm after
using the drugs.
A study conducted by Paton et al. (2015) was aimed at finding the impact of
psychotropic drugs on patients with depression. The outcome of the survey showed
that most patients reported that the drugs had a positive effect on their health. They
said to feel happy and less worried as compared to before they started taking the
drugs. Some patients who had indicated as having suicidal thoughts reported that the
impression was no longer present after taking drugs. Most of the respondents,

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however, stated to have suffered some side effects of the drugs, especially
immediately after they began using the drugs. For most of the patients, they reported
experiencing nausea and dry mouth. Patients who used the drugs for a long duration
indicated that they added a significant amount of weight resulting from the use of
psychotropic medications. According to Sarlon, Habich & Schneider, (2016),
psychiatric drugs are very critical for mental illnesses despite the little side effects that
they bring about to the people who use the drugs. He indicates that the side effects of
the drugs are very mild and insignificant compared to the benefits that they bring to
people suffering from mental illnesses. Psychotropic drugs are very crucial for
controlling the behavior of patients with violent or challenging behavior. This is
especially important for people with severe mental illnesses. Without the drugs, there
is a very high possibility of the patients harming themselves or other people close to
them. Since these drugs are effective in regulating the behavior of users, they must
continue using these drugs on prescriptions until their conditions improve. One the
argument of over-dependence on the psychotropic drugs, he indicates that patients
should stop using the drugs systematically instead of abruptly. The dosage of the
drugs should be decreased little by little up to the point where the patient completely
stops using the drugs. Utilizing this method can help the patient avoid the symptoms
associated with stopping the use of these drugs, and they can be able to continue with
their lives as usual.
Despite the importance of psychotropic drugs in the treatment of mental illnesses,
there are some negative implications of the drugs on the patients. According to
Alvares et al. (2016), the use of psychotropic medications results in sexual
dysfunction. This especially happens to patients who have used the drugs for a long
duration. A study conducted in the year 2016 by Bergiannaki & Kostaras, (2016),