PlainPill

Antipsychotics

People mainly take Antipsychotics for anxiety, mood, energy. Based on 8 first-hand reports and 1,731 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #1400 of 3,539 overall.

20
User score
Mostly negative
0% positive25% mixed50% negative25% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 0% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
1,731
meta-analyses
1,123
RCTs
28,685
papers

What Antipsychotics does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

2 more with fewer than 3 reports
betterno changeworse

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

Lancet · 2019 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 32 oral antipsychotics for the acute treatment of adults with multi-episode schizophrenia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Conclusion: There are some efficacy differences between antipsychotics, but most of them are gradual rather than discrete. Differences in side-effects are more marked. These findings will aid clinicians in balancing risks versus benefits of those drugs available in their countries. They should consider the importance of each outcome, the patients' medical problems, and preferences.

PubMed 31303314 ↗
J Affect Disord · 2022 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Augmentation strategies for treatment resistant major depression: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Conclusion: This NMA suggests a superiority of the regulatory approved adjunctive atypical antipsychotics, thyroid hormones, dopamine compounds (modafinil and lisdexamfetamine) and lithium. Acceptability was lower with ziprasidone, mirtazapine, and cariprazine. Further research and head-to-head studies should be considered to strengthen the best available options for TRD.

PubMed 34986373 ↗
Lancet Psychiatry · 2020 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Comparative effects of 18 antipsychotics on metabolic function in patients with schizophrenia, predictors of metabolic dysregulation, and association with psychopathology: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Conclusion: Marked differences exist between antipsychotics in terms of metabolic side-effects, with olanzapine and clozapine exhibiting the worst profiles and aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, lurasidone, and ziprasidone the most benign profiles. Increased baseline weight, male sex, and non-white ethnicity are predictors of susceptibility to antipsychotic-induced metabolic change, and improvements in psychopathology are associated with metabolic disturbance. Treatment guidelines should be updated to reflect our findings. However, the choice of antipsychotic should be made on an individual basis,

PubMed 31860457 ↗
Am J Psychiatry · 2025 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Esketamine Treatment for Depression in Adults: A PRISMA Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Conclusion: The study findings suggest that esketamine's efficacy as an add-on to antidepressants is modest in treatment-resistant depression (similar to augmentation strategies with atypical antipsychotics) and is absent against suicidality itself. These findings need to be considered in light of esketamine's abuse potential and the fact that long-term effects are still not fully known. Some alarming signs concerning deaths and emerging suicidality during the testing phase are discussed, along with other regulatory issues.

PubMed 39876682 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

dailyas reported

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

fatigue ×2weight gain ×1brain fog ×1zombie ×1akathisia ×1restlessness ×1shaking ×1tremor ×1

What users say

First-hand experiences, quoted verbatim. We show one positive and one negative where both exist.

“No other medication has helped - SSRIs, off label sedating anti psychotics, you name it - besides I hated them.”
Didn't helpRead the discussion ↗
“I've found antipsychotics an absolute miracle drug when it comes to anxiety.”
MixedRead the discussion ↗
“The meds are anti schizophrenic and make me feel like a zombie so I've ditched them completely”
Didn't helpRead the discussion ↗
“I take antipsychotics and the absolute worst side effect is unmanagable restlessness and shaking so severe”
MixedRead the discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

Other options for anxiety

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 3, 2026. How we rate