Close Topic Options

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics

A new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry was a cause for alarm for some patients who take antipsychotic medications to treat schizophrenia. Researchers in Iowa followed 211 patients with schizophrenia for about seven years and found that their brains shrunk a little -- a change they attributed, in part, to their medications. They said two other variables -- substance abuse and illness severity -- had little or no impact on the brain changes. Ref. Source 3

Antipsychotics

The sacrifices that one taking "antipsychotic medications" makes are unbelievable. In my experience, which I assure you is fairly extensive, antipsych's like Haldol and other similar drugs usually just make the person quieter, not saner. They tend to take away any feeling at all, and turn a person into a shell of what they used to be.

Not that I'm arguing against their use.

For some patients they work, and they work well. I would even say that for most patients antipsychs are appropriate. Unfortunately, in the US, the Pharmaceutical Companies have such strong advocates (paid and unpaid) that there only two forms of medical treatment: drugs or surgery. We've stopped trying to solve problems ourselves, or heaven forbid just living with a minor ailment.

Not that Mental Illness is anything someone should just "walk off." This is a complicated issue, so deserves a complicated (or better yet creative) solution.

Antipsychotics Health & Special Psychology

It may very well be true about brain shrinkage caused by medicine; it wouldn't surprise me. But for the people that really need them, I don't really think it matters, it's a choice between quieter, shrunken-brain people, or out-of-their-head-screaming-at-manholes people.

I'm struggling right now with getting an uncle back on his antipsychotics/manic-depressive/bipolar meds - he's on prozac from the medical doctor but that isn't denting his other condition that gotten imperceptibly worse over the few years since he switched from a mental health facility to just a medical facility, which apparently doesn't have anti-psychotic meds, but it's to the point now something has to be done, and I'm left to be the only one to do it because nobody else will take responsibility. He HAS to have his meds to get his head halfway straight again - they may not be perfect, but he will not be suffering from what he is now.

Antipsychotics

Name: Jora
Country:

Comments: The person named "JPatt" wrote a very important part to the whole question of "Should one use or not use anti-psychotic drugs". It all depends on the individual case. If someone is going to harm themselves or others then there shouldn't be a doubt about the use of anti-psychotic medicine. I agree it shouldn't be a first choice, just on a case by case basis.

Antipsychotics

Dopamine receptor blockade seen as cause for antipsychotic drug side-effects


Scientists have discovered the key cellular mechanism that underlies the antipsychotic-induced parkinsonism -- which includes involuntary movements, tremors and other severe physical conditions. These studies present evidence that will stimulate a targeted approach for the design of novel antipsychotics without side-effects. Ref. Source 3w.