ortunately, as with most drugs, there are certain side effects. These side effects range in severity and occurrence. Common side effects are dry mouth, stiffness, restlessness, or slight slurring of the speech. Some uncommon side effects are, loss of appetite, menstrual changes in women, and on the more serious side, liver damage, damage to blood forming organs, convulsions, abnormal heart functions, or unexplained fever could occur. The most feared side effect is a disease known called Tardive Dyskinsia.Tardive dyskinesia occurs mostly with patients who have been taking anti-psychotics for a prolonged period of time over many years. Its symptoms include involuntary movements of the tongue and mouth. Purposeless movements of the arms or legs may also occur. As of yet there has not been an effective treatment found for tardive dyskinsia.Even with these side effects taken into consideration, drugs remain the safest, and most effective way to control schizophrenia. The only other real alternative to drugs, which isn’t used often, is shock therapy. The reason it hasn’t been used is because more harm often comes to the patient than good. This is because the shock therapy may lead to damage of neurons.There are many legal and ethical concerned for those with schizophrenia and there families. One of these is involuntary hospitalization. Should a person with schizophrenia be put in the hospital against their will? Or one the other hand is refused treatment if they pose no threat to themselves or others. The following is a good example of the dilemma faced by involuntary hospitalization:A young woman is observed to be living in a train station for several days. She asks passers-by for money but other wise do not bother them. She is often seen taking to herself or to imaginary people.A news reporter talks with her and discovers that the woman is a college graduate. She has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital. The wo...
