Q. Recently visited doctor and he did brain x ray and they have came with the the psychology disorder named schizophrenia...due to the medication of tablets my mother is feeling sleepy all the day and inactive...is it right to take these medicines...and also check the interpretation of the brain report.

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that can be both disabling and distressing. It is characterized by disruptions in thought processes, perceptions of reality, language, behavior and emotions. While medications are the traditional course of treatment for those living with schizophrenia, it's important to understand their potential side effects before taking them.

Sleepiness or drowsiness is a common side effect of antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia, which may include sedating antihistamines often added to the medication mix. In addition to being sleepy during the day your mother may experience involuntary movements called tardive dyskinesia that are also associated with antipsychotic medication use.

It's important for your family doctor as well as your psychiatrist or other mental health professionals involved in monitoring her care to review the report from her brain scan carefully so they can determine if there were any abnormalities present at the time of scanning and how they relate (if at all) to her current symptoms and treatment options available at this time. Appropriate dose adjustments may be necessary depending on what was found on the scan, so it would be wise to arrange some follow up visits soon after receiving this news in order to discuss her particular case further with medical personnel directly involved in caring for her health needs at this time.