Medications for Antisocial Personality Disorder
About Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is often characterized by lack of regard for right and wrong, deceitfulness, child abuse or neglect, intimidation of others, violent behavior, lack of remorse, and substance abuse.
Currently there is no specific medication; antisocial personality disorder has no drug that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat this disorder. What medical professionals have been using are psychiatric medications to treat symptoms of APD such as abnormal moods (e.g., depression, irritability), atypical behaviors (e.g., aggression) and disorganized thought processes (e.g., anxiety).
Types of Medication, Antisocial Personality Disorder
The following are several types of psychiatric medication that are used as treatments for people with antisocial personality disorder:
Antidepressants.
Antidepressants may be useful if you experiencing depressed moods, anger, impulsivity, irritability or feelings of hopelessness. Examples of some antidepressant medications are Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, and Cymbalta.
How they work: -
Chemicals in our brain called neurotransmitters are needed for normal brain function. Low levels of some can lead to depression. This medication restores the balance of these chemicals.
Benefits: -
Your ability to sleep better may increase; you may experience an increase in energy which will help you to perform your daily obligations. Appetite may also improve, desire to engage in life returns and so does your ability to take care of yourself.
Mood-stabilizing Medication
Mood stabilizers help to even out the erratic fluctuation of our moods (e.g., highs and lows) Below are two examples of mood stabilizing drugs: -
a) Anticonvulsants
Used not only to treat epileptic seizures but also as mood stabilizers. In low doses they can effectively control anxiety and stabilize sleep patterns. Examples of anticonvulsant medications are Neurontin and Gabitril.
b) Lithium
Used to treat and prevent manic episodes (frenzied, abnormally excited mood). This anti-manic medication decreases abnormal activity in the brain. Common brand names for lithium are Cibalilth-S, Eskalith, Lithane, Lithobid, Lithonate and Lithotabs.
How it works: -
Mood stabilizers work by altering the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain and the response of the receptors they bind to.
Benefits: -
Reduces symptoms such as tension, chronic worry, irrational fears, agitation, insomnia, panic attacks, hypertension, weakness, and difficulty in breathing.
Antipsychotic Medication
This type of medication works to reduce psychotic symptoms associated with some mental illness such as antisocial personality disorder, allowing the person to function in a more effective and appropriate manner. Some examples of atypical antipsychotics are Seroquel and Ketipinor.
How they work: -
Predominantly they work by binding to and blocking the D2 or dopamine receptor in the brain. They also bind to the serotonin receptor.
Benefits: -
Helpful if symptoms include psychosis (losing touch with reality) or in some cases where anger problems and irrational anxieties are present. This medication can help decrease irritability, impulsivity and aggressiveness.
Anti-anxiety Medications
Anti-anxiety drugs work to calm and relax people who have excessive anxiety, nervousness or tension. There are several different classes of anti-anxiety drugs and each works differently.
Some examples and how they work: -
a) Benzodiazepenes (Klonopin, Xanax and Ativan)
Contains sedative and anticonvulsant properties. Depress the central nervous system by acting on the receptors of the neurotransmitter GABA.
b) Serotonin (BuSpar)
Affects specific serotonin receptor, 5-HT 1A, and potentiates serotonin’s inhibitory central nervous system effects. This decreases anxiety, promotes normal sleeping and eating patterns.
Benefits:
May help decrease anxiety, agitation or insomnia.
So even though there is no one specific medication, antisocial personality disorder symptoms can still be managed quite successfully.
References
- Personality Disorder Treatment and Medication https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/294307-treatment
- Antisocial Personality Disorder: Treatment and Drugs https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antisocial-personality-disorder/DS00829/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
- Depression - https://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/treatment/045.html
- Antisocial Personality Disorder: Drugs https://www.healthline.com/channel/antisocial-personality-disorder_drugs
- What Are Antipsychotics, How Do They Work, And Are They Helpful In The Treatment Of Anxiety Disorders? https://abcnews.go.com/Health/AnxietyTreating/story?id=4665171