Explore and compare different medications below so you and your healthcare team can decide which medication is best for you.
Amisulpride
Amisulpride carries a higher risk of hormonal side effects, especially in younger people, so it can be harder to use this medicine in adolescents and young adults. Amisulpride is sometimes used in combination with other antipsychotics such as clozapine.
Amisulpride
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Aripiprazole
Aripiprazole carries a very low risk of weight gain and hormonal side effects. Sometimes it is even used to manage these side effects caused by other antipsychotics. It can help people feel more alert, which may be a good thing, but can also make falling asleep difficult. Restlessness can also be a problem, especially in the first few weeks after starting aripiprazole but it improves with time for most people.
Aripiprazole
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Chlorpromazine
Chlorpromazine is the oldest antipsychotic. It was discovered in 1950 by accident during a search for new antihistamines (medicines for allergy). It is usually quite sedating, which can be helpful for sleep and calming effects - but not so good if this affects daily activities. It may cause dizziness and hormonal side effects.
Chlorpromazine
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Clozapine
Clozapine is very effective in treating psychosis for people who don't respond well to other antipsychotics. It is also the only antipsychotic proven to reduce the risk of self-harm. It tends to have more side effects than others including weight gain, sedation, constipation, too much saliva (spit) production and low white blood cells. Careful monitoring is needed including regular blood tests for the whole time a person takes clozapine.
Clozapine
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Flupenthixol
Flupenthixol is an older antipsychotic, only available as a long acting injection (also known as a depot) in New Zealand. It was also used as a treatment for depression back in the 70’s and 80’s. Movement side effects and hormonal side effects are common with this medicine.
Flupenthixol
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Haloperidol
Haloperidol is an older antipsychotic that is sometimes used as a short term treatment when people are distressed or agitated in hospital. It can also be used over a longer period of time as tablets, liquid or a long acting injection. Common side effects include muscle stiffness and restlessness. It doesn’t help much with motivation, focus and attention, and might actually make these worse in some people if the dose is too high.
Haloperidol
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Olanzapine
Olanzapine is often used for its calming effects when a person is distressed. It is available in tablets and a long acting injection. It seems to be slightly more effective than other antipsychotics (except clozapine). A lot of people find olanzapine makes them really hungry, which can lead to weight gain.
Olanzapine
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Paliperidone
Paliperidone is only available as a long acting monthly injection. It tends to cause less sleepiness than some of the other antipsychotics. However, movement and hormonal side effects are more common.
Paliperidone
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Pericyazine
Pericyazine is an older medicine not used very much for psychosis anymore - other medicines are usually preferred. Like all older antipsychotics, it can cause movement and hormonal side effects. Weight gain and drowsiness are also quite common.
Pericyazine
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Quetiapine
Quetiapine has some antidepressant effects, so might be good for people experiencing psychosis who also have a low mood or depression. It has a very low risk of movement and hormonal side effects, but often causes increased appetite and weight gain.
Quetiapine
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Risperidone
Risperidone is available as tablets, liquid and a fortnightly long acting injection. It tends to cause less drowsiness than some other antipsychotics but movement and hormonal side effects are more common.
Risperidone
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Ziprasidone
Ziprasidone causes less weight gain, sedation and movement and hormonal side effects than some other antipsychotics. It may even increase alertness in some people, especially at lower doses. It is more likely to cause irregular heartbeat than many other antipsychotics so a doctor or nurse may check this at the start of treatment.
Ziprasidone
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Zuclopenthixol
Zuclopenthixol is an older antipsychotic, which is available as tablets and long acting injection. It tends to be sedating and calming and can help reduce aggression and agitation. As with the other older antipsychotics, movement and hormonal side effects are quite common.
Zuclopenthixol
Drowsiness, lethargy
Increased appetite, weight gain
Stiff or shaky muscles
Restlessness
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision
Dizziness
Hormonal side effects
Medication information was compiled from the following sources:
Galletly C, Castle D, Dark F, Humberstone V, Jablensky A, Killackey E, et al. Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the management of schizophrenia and related disorders. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2016;50(5):410-72.
Haddad PM, Sharma SG. Adverse effects of atypical antipsychotics : differential risk and clinical implications. CNS drugs. 2007;21(11):911-36.
Jibson MD. Second-generation antipsychotic medications: Pharmacology, administration, and side effects. 2017 [last update May 15, 2017] In: UpToDate [Internet]. [cited 2 November 2017]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/second-generation-antipsychotic-medications-pharmacology-administration-and-side-effects
Leucht S, Cipriani A, Spineli L, Mavridis D, Orey D, Richter F, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 15 antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia: a multiple-treatments meta-analysis.
Lancet (London, England). 2013;382(9896):951-62.
Leucht S, Tardy M, Komossa K, Heres S, Kissling W, Salanti G, et al. Antipsychotic drugs versus placebo for relapse prevention in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet. 2012;379(9831):2063-71.
Marder S, Stroup T. Pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia: Side effect management. 2017 [last update Dec 01, 2016] In: UpToDate [Internet]. [cited 2 November 2017]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pharmacotherapy-for-schizophrenia-side-effect-management
New Zealand Formulary (NZF). NZF v[64] [Internet]. 2017. Available from: www.nzf.org.nz [accessed 02 November 2017].
Robinson DG, Gallego JA, John M, Petrides G, Hassoun Y, Zhang JP, et al. A Randomized Comparison of Aripiprazole and Risperidone for the Acute Treatment of First-Episode Schizophrenia and Related Disorders: 3-Month Outcomes. Schizophrenia bulletin. 2015;41(6):1227-36.
Stahl SM. Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology : Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Application. 4th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2013.
Stahl SM. Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: The Prescriber's Guide. 6th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2017.
Taylor D, Paton C, Kapur S. The Maudsley prescribing guidelines in psychiatry. Twelfth edition. West Sussex, England : Wiley Blackwell. 2015.
Zhu Y, Li C, Huhn M, Rothe P, Krause M, Bighelli I, et al. How well do patients with a first episode of schizophrenia respond to antipsychotics: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;27(9):835-44.
Like any other medication, antipsychotics can cause side effects. While side effects may seem scary, they can be managed. Overall, the benefits of antipsychotics outweigh the downsides for most people.
Common side effects
Support groups in New Zealand
In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional, through sharing personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. Below is a list of some support groups in New Zealand.
Rare side effects
Medication information on this page was compiled from the following sources:
Community support services in New Zealand
Below is a list of community-based organisations that provide all sorts of services to support a person emotionally and practically through getting better and continuing to live well in their community. These services can range from such things as helping a person through counselling and developing practical life skills, to helping them to find housing or to find and maintain employment whilst developing a career.
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Provides free information and training, and advocates for policies and services that support people with experience of mental illness, and also their families/whānau and friends.
Early Intervention in Psychosis support services (EIS)
Early Intervention for psychosis are services provided by District Health Boards (DHBs) that aim to help young people when they experience psychosis for the first time.
Emerge Aotearoa
Emerge Aotearoa provides a wide range of community-based mental health, addiction, disability support and social housing services nationwide.
Pathways
Pathways provides a range of support services around practical daily living, leading a healthy life, employment and housing.
Culture-specific support services
Bo Ai She: Asian Family Services
Bo Ai She provide cultural support and recovery support for Asian users of mental health services and their families. They run workshops and activities for the group members.
Le Va Pasifika support services
They work alongside the services and people who deliver mental health, addiction, public health, suicide prevention and general health and wellbeing services to support Pasifika communities.
Māori cultural assessment and support services
Māori mental health programmes have a whānau/family focus and are based on Māori cultural values, customs and beliefs.
Vaka Tautua support for Pasifika
Vaka Tautua is a national “by Pacific for Pacific” health support service provider. They offer a mental health community support service, underpinned by the POPAO model (a Pacific recovery and strength concept) that is central to the recovery of service users by empowering them through their journey towards recovery.
Arahura Charitable Trust – Auckland City
Arahura Charitable Trust currently provide residential housing and support and a day service (Crossroads Clubhouse).
Edge Employment – Auckland
Provide help with finding employment. They offer ongoing support, with assistance on and off the job to remain successfully employed.
Equip – Auckland
A mental health organisation, an extension of Windsor Park Church, that provides an innovative model of care, effective support and education in the greater Auckland region. Their support workers work closely with clinical key worker and/or whānau family where appropriate. They also offer dietician, housing and spiritual support, as well as support for families/whānau.
Framework – Auckland
Framework works alongside clients and their family/whānau to live high quality lives. This can include getting mental health consumers back into employment, connecting with their community in jobs and housing of their choice.
Kāhui Tū Kaha – Central and South Auckland
Kāhui Tū Kaha (formerly Affinity Services) provide the following:
- Consumer leadership & advocacy to Auckland DHB Mental Health & Addiction Services
- Housing services for youth needing supported living arrangements
- Recovery support to people who have experienced mental illness and who are living in the community
- Respite & residential mental health services Individual support, group education and organisational certification on the needs of people coming from Rainbow or LGBTTI communities (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Takatāpui, Intersex)
Muslim Wellbeing Team – Auckland
Affinity’s Muslim Mental Health Liaison Team works in collaboration with Auckland’s Muslim community to raise mental health awareness and increase access to mainstream mental health services.
Walsh Trust – Waitakere
- Mobile community support
- Group workshops and outdoor programs to enhance people’s life skills
- Peer support
- Help with employment and housing
Connect Supporting Recovery – Auckland and Hamilton
Connect offers a wide range of services to people experiencing mental health and addictions issues including attaining goals in employment and accommodation.
Mash Trust – MidCentral and Whanganui
MASH provides a wide range of support services for people with mental health, intellectual or physical disability or illness, alcohol and addiction and youth respite care for people who require support in their own homes, or in the community.
PROP - Support for Mental Health Carers – Waikato
PROP provide support for those who care for someone with mental health conditions or alcohol and drug addictions.
Comcare Trust – Canterbury region
- Peer support
- Housing facilitation and emergency housing services
- Pre-employment support and supported employment
- Ongoing support and guidance with life skills e.g. (budgeting, leisure/recreation, social skills, communication, conflict resolution)
Stepping Stone Trust – Canterbury region
- Youth residential and youth respite services
- Youth Mobile - an intensive support option, with staff visiting young people in their own homes as frequently as required, with daily visits an option in times of crisis
- Youth community support work
- Mobile medication services
Pukeko Blue Ltd. – Christchurch
Pukeko Blue has 14 community houses accommodating people with mental health, intellectual and physical disabilities. All houses are staffed 24 hours a day with a registered nurse visiting daily and available on call 24/7.
Support groups in New Zealand
In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional, through sharing personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. Below is a list of some support groups in New Zealand.
Big White Wall
A clinically supported, professionally facilitated, self-managed, peer support community of people who are experiencing common mental health issues who are supported to self-manage their own mental health. Members are able to engage anonymously one on one, in groups or the wider membership, express themselves creatively, gain knowledge and self-awareness through available information resources.
Balance NZ
A well-established national bipolar and depression support network, including resources and online forums.
Big Black Dog message board & chat room
A NZ-run mental health peer support group available to all, online 24/7. The message board is moderated and has become a safe haven for many who previously felt they had no voice.
Hearing Voices Network Aotearoa NZ
Support groups usually run by volunteers. They also have a facebook group where people can join in and chat.
GROW
GROW offers a supportive environment to help those who struggle to live well in the world. They are a community mental health movement with groups suitable for people recovering from mental illness, anyone suffering a crisis, and for those who need support to self-manage their daily lives. No referrals are required, no fees are charged, however a small donation to meet group expenses is usual and voluntary.
Papatoetoe Hearing Voices Support Group – Auckland
Tuesdays, 2pm – 3pm | Address: 54 Carruth Road, Papatoetoe 2025 | Phone: 09 279 8233 | Email: whariki@emergeaotearoa.org.nz
Toi Ora Live Art Trust – Auckland
Toi Ora is an art organisation that provides innovation and leadership in the field of creativity in mental health recovery. They provide a variety of arts, creative writing, music and recording classes and workshops, that are tutored by professional practitioners with experience and/or an understanding of the issues surrounding mental health.
Promoting Mental Wellness – Waikato
This group exists to educate, promote, support and organise mental wellbeing initiatives to benefit the lives of people in the community. It uses self-help principles and operates from a recovery and strengths-based focus. Located in Hamilton East.
Bipolar Support at MHAPS – Christchurch
A service that provides support to people whose lives are affected by bipolar disorder and they are part of a larger organisation called MHAPS which stands for Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support. The Bipolar Support team offers peer support to friends and family members as well as those directly affected by bipolar. This can be one to one or in groups. They also provide information and run education sessions.
Otago Mental Health Support Trust
A service that provides support for adults with experience of mental distress. They have traditionally supported people with bipolar disorder and continue to do so. They offer peer support, advocacy, education and information.
Otago’s Supported Volunteering Programme
They support people in the recovery phase to explore volunteering as a means of re-establishing routines, goals and social connection.
Community support services in New Zealand
Below is a list of community-based organisations that provide all sorts of services to support a person emotionally and practically through getting better and continuing to live well in their community. These services can range from such things as helping a person through counselling and developing practical life skills, to helping them to find housing or to find and maintain employment whilst developing a career.
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Support groups in New Zealand
In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional, through sharing personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. Below is a list of some support groups in New Zealand.
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Provides free information and training, and advocates for policies and services that support people with experience of mental illness, and also their families/whānau and friends.
Early Intervention in Psychosis support services (EIS)
Early Intervention for psychosis are services provided by District Health Boards (DHBs) that aim to help young people when they experience psychosis for the first time.
Emerge Aotearoa
Emerge Aotearoa provides a wide range of community-based mental health, addiction, disability support and social housing services nationwide.
Pathways
Pathways provides a range of support services around practical daily living, leading a healthy life, employment and housing.
Culture-specific support services
Bo Ai She: Asian Family Services
Bo Ai She provide cultural support and recovery support for Asian users of mental health services and their families. They run workshops and activities for the group members.
Le Va Pasifika support services
They work alongside the services and people who deliver mental health, addiction, public health, suicide prevention and general health and wellbeing services to support Pasifika communities.
Māori cultural assessment and support services
Māori mental health programmes have a whānau/family focus and are based on Māori cultural values, customs and beliefs.
Vaka Tautua support for Pasifika
Vaka Tautua is a national “by Pacific for Pacific” health support service provider. They offer a mental health community support service, underpinned by the POPAO model (a Pacific recovery and strength concept) that is central to the recovery of service users by empowering them through their journey towards recovery.
Arahura Charitable Trust – Auckland City
Arahura Charitable Trust currently provide residential housing and support and a day service (Crossroads Clubhouse).
Edge Employment – Auckland
Provide help with finding employment. They offer ongoing support, with assistance on and off the job to remain successfully employed.
Equip – Auckland
A mental health organisation, an extension of Windsor Park Church, that provides an innovative model of care, effective support and education in the greater Auckland region. Their support workers work closely with clinical key worker and/or whānau family where appropriate. They also offer dietician, housing and spiritual support, as well as support for families/whānau.
Framework – Auckland
Framework works alongside clients and their family/whānau to live high quality lives. This can include getting mental health consumers back into employment, connecting with their community in jobs and housing of their choice.
Kāhui Tū Kaha – Central and South Auckland
Kāhui Tū Kaha (formerly Affinity Services) provide the following:
- Consumer leadership & advocacy to Auckland DHB Mental Health & Addiction Services
- Housing services for youth needing supported living arrangements
- Recovery support to people who have experienced mental illness and who are living in the community
- Respite & residential mental health services Individual support, group education and organisational certification on the needs of people coming from Rainbow or LGBTTI communities (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Takatāpui, Intersex)
Muslim Wellbeing Team – Auckland
Affinity’s Muslim Mental Health Liaison Team works in collaboration with Auckland’s Muslim community to raise mental health awareness and increase access to mainstream mental health services.
Walsh Trust – Waitakere
- Mobile community support
- Group workshops and outdoor programs to enhance people’s life skills
- Peer support
- Help with employment and housing
Connect Supporting Recovery – Auckland and Hamilton
Connect offers a wide range of services to people experiencing mental health and addictions issues including attaining goals in employment and accommodation.
Mash Trust – MidCentral and Whanganui
MASH provides a wide range of support services for people with mental health, intellectual or physical disability or illness, alcohol and addiction and youth respite care for people who require support in their own homes, or in the community.
PROP - Support for Mental Health Carers – Waikato
PROP provide support for those who care for someone with mental health conditions or alcohol and drug addictions.
Comcare Trust – Canterbury region
- Peer support
- Housing facilitation and emergency housing services
- Pre-employment support and supported employment
- Ongoing support and guidance with life skills e.g. (budgeting, leisure/recreation, social skills, communication, conflict resolution)
Stepping Stone Trust – Canterbury region
- Youth residential and youth respite services
- Youth Mobile - an intensive support option, with staff visiting young people in their own homes as frequently as required, with daily visits an option in times of crisis
- Youth community support work
- Mobile medication services
Pukeko Blue Ltd. – Christchurch
Pukeko Blue has 14 community houses accommodating people with mental health, intellectual and physical disabilities. All houses are staffed 24 hours a day with a registered nurse visiting daily and available on call 24/7.
Big White Wall
A clinically supported, professionally facilitated, self-managed, peer support community of people who are experiencing common mental health issues who are supported to self-manage their own mental health. Members are able to engage anonymously one on one, in groups or the wider membership, express themselves creatively, gain knowledge and self-awareness through available information resources.
Balance NZ
A well-established national bipolar and depression support network, including resources and online forums.
Big Black Dog message board & chat room
A NZ-run mental health peer support group available to all, online 24/7. The message board is moderated and has become a safe haven for many who previously felt they had no voice.
Hearing Voices Network Aotearoa NZ
Support groups usually run by volunteers. They also have a facebook group where people can join in and chat.
GROW
GROW offers a supportive environment to help those who struggle to live well in the world. They are a community mental health movement with groups suitable for people recovering from mental illness, anyone suffering a crisis, and for those who need support to self-manage their daily lives. No referrals are required, no fees are charged, however a small donation to meet group expenses is usual and voluntary.
Papatoetoe Hearing Voices Support Group – Auckland
Tuesdays, 2pm – 3pm | Address: 54 Carruth Road, Papatoetoe 2025 | Phone: 09 279 8233 | Email: whariki@emergeaotearoa.org.nz
Toi Ora Live Art Trust – Auckland
Toi Ora is an art organisation that provides innovation and leadership in the field of creativity in mental health recovery. They provide a variety of arts, creative writing, music and recording classes and workshops, that are tutored by professional practitioners with experience and/or an understanding of the issues surrounding mental health.
Promoting Mental Wellness – Waikato
This group exists to educate, promote, support and organise mental wellbeing initiatives to benefit the lives of people in the community. It uses self-help principles and operates from a recovery and strengths-based focus. Located in Hamilton East.
Bipolar Support at MHAPS – Christchurch
A service that provides support to people whose lives are affected by bipolar disorder and they are part of a larger organisation called MHAPS which stands for Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support. The Bipolar Support team offers peer support to friends and family members as well as those directly affected by bipolar. This can be one to one or in groups. They also provide information and run education sessions.
Otago Mental Health Support Trust
A service that provides support for adults with experience of mental distress. They have traditionally supported people with bipolar disorder and continue to do so. They offer peer support, advocacy, education and information.
Otago’s Supported Volunteering Programme
They support people in the recovery phase to explore volunteering as a means of re-establishing routines, goals and social connection.
