Posted by Else on July 2, 2001, at 8:22:14
In reply to Re: Why are so many people on anti-psychotics? » Else, posted by Zo on July 1, 2001, at 23:05:16
> My understanding is that the new-generation APs such as Zyprexa and Geodon are very different chemicals from the old. . .and act effectively, in much smaller doses than for psychosis, as a block to the effects of the dopamine cascade upon the limibic system provoked by hypervigilance and stress. Zyprexa gave me a handle on my emotions (I am an abuse survivor, and have CFS) unlike anything, ever. . .and I'd still be on it if it weren't for the major weight gain, I mean major! Besides which, 6 months of it seems to have evened me out.
>
> It really helps to get underneath what a drug is labelled, and think about what they actually *do.*
>
> Best,
> Zo
`Yeah well, the reason these drugs worry me is that my brother was put on Risperdal for a putative schizophreniform disorder without a proper examination (he was smoking about 7 joints a day at the time and they failed to notice that). Normally he is quite vivacious, attention-seaking, and sometimes downright hysterical but on Risperdal he was like an empty shell. No personnality, complacent, quiet, boring, no initiative whatsoever. He stopped taking it because of the so-called "sexual side-effects" and returned to normal. I feel they gave it to him to make him more manageable and were unnable to give hime a proper diagnosis because he was so doped up on both marijuana and Risperdal. He talked to me about it afterwards and his account of the treatment was: "I'm angry because these are two months of my life I'll never get back"
poster:Else
thread:68557
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010701/msgs/68714.html