Posted by ed_uk on February 6, 2005, at 8:25:29
In reply to For Ed_uk » ed_uk, posted by olysi79 on February 6, 2005, at 1:52:06
Hi Chris!
>One PDOC told me that patients used to get it so bad that they would throw themselves off of buildings in mental hospitals. How pleasant.
Yes, I have heard that some people have killed themselves because of akathisia.
I found this interesting. It describes the effect that the antipsychotic droperidol had on a healthy psychologist. In the study, where droperodol was given to several healthy psychologists, one of them had to admitted to a psychiatric ward for suicidal ideation!!
(From the New Scientist)
Leading clinical psychologist describes feelings of "helplessness" and "uncontrolled weeping" after taking neuroleptic (antipsychotic)
February 1, 2004
A leading clinical psychologist has described his experience of taking a neuroleptic medication as part of a clinical trial.
Richard Bentall, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Manchester, told the New Scientist magazine how he experienced the symptoms of akathisia, and became agitated and depressed.
Bentall, one of clinical psychology's most outspoken critics of psychiatry's medical model, took 5mgs of the neuroleptic droperidol . He was one of the subjects in a study organised by David Healy, professor of psychological medicine at the North Wales Hospital in Bangor.
Dr Bentall, a leading proponent of cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of psychosis, explained to the magazine: "I felt lethargic and sedated...I felt a sense of depression and hopelessness but also an inner sense of restlessness and agitation. It was a combined wanting to do something and not being able to.
"I had to do these neuropsychological tests, and it was embarrassing, but I burst into tears halfway through. I started weeping uncontrollably, so much so that I was given an anticholinergic drug as an antidote and David took me out to get some fresh air.
"I suddenly felt I had to tell him about all the things I had ever felt guilty about. Then I went back and fell asleep for three hours. I woke up with a woozy hangover, like there was a glass wall between me and the world and that lasted for about a week after a single dose."
Have a look at this.....
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/324/7352/1506If ever I go into hospital I'll make sure that a warning is written on my drug chart. I would never agree to take take haloperidol, metoclopramide or prochlorperazine- drugs which are widely used as anti-nauseants in English medical wards. I'd be happy to take domperidone, cyclizine or ondansetron though.
What scares me the most is that I might be given an antipsychotic when I'm old and I can't refuse eg. if I had dementia. If I became agitated they'd just keep increasing the dose until I was in hell!! It terrifies me to think how common this must be.
>Have you ever had agitated depressions/mixed states? That was the most recent depression I went through and also tends to be the flavor I get periodically for 3-4 days every month or so. I have intense anxiety, agitation, despair and become afraid of everything, almsot like a wierd paranoia.
No, I've never had that. I had a lot of very severe anxiety when I was younger though. Perahaps you should take Ativan preventatively when you take Zyprexa for more that a day. What do you think?
Ed.
poster:ed_uk
thread:441667
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050202/msgs/453917.html