Posted by blueberry on June 14, 2006, at 5:22:51
In reply to Antipsychotics RULE!, posted by alienatari on June 13, 2006, at 22:20:22
I agree that for the right person in the right circumstance, antipsychotics rule. Based on my own longterm experience with them, I do think they should be saved as a final option after other things such as mood stabilizers and benzos have been tried first.
My only complaint with antipsychotics is what happens after longterm use. For example, 6 years in my case. If you use an antipsychotic for that long for insomnia or as an antidepressant or as an augmentor or anxiety, but not for schizoaffective stuff, well, you will have schizoaffective stuff if you try to stop. Longterm use of antipsychotics can make someone who never had schizophrenia become schizophrenic if they taper off. Those dopamine receptors become super sensitive after being blocked for so long and they do not readily readapt to being unblocked. For me, they did not readapt even after 3 months of being without my 5 year zyprexa following a 4 month taper. It was hell.
Diabetes is another concern. It can happen with any of them. The last thing a mentally ill person needs is to get diabetes. So that should be monitored at home weekly with a glucose meter.
Overall though, the APs can indeed be amazing for the right person in the right circumstance. After longterm use though, it is a one-way street. Benzo withdrawals are bad enough. But I found zyprexa withdrawals to be much more severe than benzo withdrawals.
Just some pros and cons. Every med choice really involves a benefit/risk decision, and those benefits and risks will vary from person to person.
poster:blueberry
thread:656678
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060610/msgs/656749.html