Posted by Ray on January 25, 2002, at 14:19:00
In reply to Re: Overuse of Zyprexa/Risperdal?, posted by OldSchool on January 25, 2002, at 11:49:52
Antipsychotics have been approved for people with overly high dopamine (skitzophrenia, mania).
For depression and anxiety I think they will usually just make things worse.
However, when very low doses of a few of these are combined with certain activating (DA/NE) meds, the combo often provides extra dopamine boost in in the limbic area (reward, emotion are key).
The result can be increase ability to "enjoy" or "experience pleasure", lift mood, anti-anxiety.
Usually only a very low dose of zyprexa or such is tolerable, and must be combined with DA and/or NE enhancing meds for depressed or anxious patients without manic (too high energy) or psychotic features.Ray
> > Hey Everyone,
> >
> > I have always being taught that antipsychotics were not to be used for tradition anxiety disorders such as panic disorder or GAD.
> >
> > But I am seeing an incredible amount of individuals on Zyprexa/Risperdal for a myriad of disorders .... from generalized anxiety to treatment resistant depression. And I find many people say they are getting relief for the first time in years.
> >
> > Why are pdoc prescribing antipsychotics like water now? I wonder if it is because doctors who believe benzos are habit forming now have an alternative. I wonder if those pdoc are concerned about the risks of tardive dyskinesia, weight gain, apathy from antipsychotics.
> >
> > Anyone have any comments?
> >
> > Spike
> >
> > PS I have never tried either Zyprexa/Risperdal .... maybe I am missing out!
>
> I have severe treatment resistant depression and I have never benefitted from adding atypical anti-psychotics to my antidepressant. More the opposite. Everytime Ive taken atypicals I get worse feeling. I find atypicals "block" the antidepressant effect I get from ADs.
>
> Here is what happens when I take even low dose atypical anti-psychotics (Ive taken low dose Risperdal, Zyprexa and Seroquel before). My tongue gets numb, my muscles get tight and mildly contracted everywhere, the back of my head gets tight and "cinched down" feeling. And I get little muscle twitches everywhere, particularly right after I take the dose. I get physically numb feeling and I find the anti-psychotics makes me "flat" feeling, taking away my personality. Anti-psychotics make me feel very bored. I also have found that atypical anti-psychotics increases suicidal thoughts in me and makes me feel more depressed.
>
> I would much prefer to have bilateral ECT than take any anti-psychotic medication. And I mean that. ECT sounds like it has a better side effect profile to me than atypical anti-psychotics.
>
> Old School
poster:Ray
thread:91496
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020124/msgs/91563.html