Antipsychotic medications work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, which reduces the activity of dopamine neurotransmitters. While this can be helpful in treating psychotic symptoms, it can also cause a reduction in dopamine activity in the brain.
It is a common misconception that antipsychotics cause permanent damage to the dopamine system. However, there is no evidence to suggest that antipsychotics permanently damage the dopamine system. Instead, it is thought that the dopamine system may become desensitized or adapt to the medication over time.
When a person stops taking antipsychotic medication, it may take some time for the dopamine system to fully recover and return to normal levels of activity. This process is known as "dopamine supersensitivity," and it can cause a rebound effect in dopamine activity, which can lead to symptoms such as psychosis, agitation, and dyskinesia.
However, in most cases, the dopamine system does eventually return to normal levels of activity after a person stops taking antipsychotic medication.