Neuroleptics are medicines used mainly to treat illnesses that present with psychotic symptoms. Psychotic symptoms include delusions (incorrect judgements that cannot be corrected) and hallucinations (sensations that arise without external stimuli - the patient sees something that is not there, hears something that is not actually heard).

Neuroleptics are used in the treatment of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, delusional disorders, in the treatment of mania, in depressions with psychotic symptoms, in the treatment of delirium.

Neuroleptics have been used in psychiatry for a relatively short time. The first drug in this group was introduced in 1952, and others were later introduced. There are different groups of these drugs, and they differ in their chemical structure. The older neuroleptics are the so-called 'classic neuroleptics'. Nowadays, there are also so-called 'atypical neuroleptics' on the market, which are better tolerated by patients and at the same time have a broader profile of action (e.g. they are more effective in treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, or affective symptoms = i.e. related to mood).

Most neuroleptics are tablets that need to be taken daily. However, some neuroleptics are in long-acting form, in which case the medication can be taken every 2 or even every 4 weeks.