Posted by Racer on February 19, 2006, at 1:22:28
In reply to Confused regarding choice of med presecribed, posted by Op27Nr2 on February 18, 2006, at 12:20:09
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> I was given a sample of something called Abilify (aripiprazole) 5mg. While he DID mention it was an anti-psychotic, I knew from doing some reading in the past, that anti-psychotics are meds used to treat schizophrenia. I don't have this disorder, nor do I have any family history of schizophrenia.
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> I'm sure there is a very good explanation for his decision to start me on an anti-psychotic, but I'm very nervous about taking them. I am going to a different doctor to get a second opinion, but that won't be until next month.
>I think the explanation is related to the fact that the drugs we call "anti-psychotics" are often heavy tranquilizers. Chlorpromazine, for instance, is a cousin to acepromazine, which is used as a tranquilizer in animals like horses, and I think dogs. (Chlorpromazine = Thorazine) Risperdal, one of the popular APs, is also described as a heavy tranquilizer, rather than an anti-psychotic, in a lot of the literature.
Yes, these drugs do more and other than just sedate or tranquilize. They can address the psychotic symptoms more directly, through their action on the dopamine system, but they are also used as anxiolytics. And they're used that way because they work.
There are risks, and TD is one of them, but at a low dose the risk is also low. And, since you're taking this for anxiety, and not psychosis, you'll be on a low dose.
Another option for anxiety is Buspar, which is marketed as an anxiolytic -- but was developed as an anti-psychotic.
I hope that helps somewhat, either to set your mind a bit at ease, or at least to help explain what your doctor might have been thinking. Good luck to you.
poster:Racer
thread:610876
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060212/msgs/611046.html