Posted by yxibow on February 17, 2008, at 23:08:20
In reply to Re: The long term use of antipsychotics.... » jms600, posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2008, at 20:04:49
Well I'm faced at the moment with literally taking Seroquel for life, or until something else (not Zyprexa, don't get me there, something akin to Tardive Dystonia) comes along, or until my anxiety shifts or unless I try Clozaril (which is one molecule different from Zyprexa....).
Its a multifaceted thing that I have to deal with because I still take high dose Valium for a reason, it actually addresses things even though I don't feel it any more, the dose has changed downward though but its very hard to reduce it and there are still benefits.
Also I can't take any Valium with Clozaril which is contraindicated (respiratory depression), and would theoretically open up more of the TDy pain and I would have to cross taper from Seroquel to remain functional.
This of course is a very unusual situation I've had for 6 years which has changed over time into something a bit different, but still is somatoform . I have yet to meet but one person with a brief comment on here with a somatoform disorder, and mine is visual.
Anyhow long story short, not being medication sensitive as I am to certain things, yes, you can take an atypical for life or for a long period of time. Zyprexa and Seroquel which are lower risk have been around for more than one decade and expire in 2011 (the patent rule in the US is usually for 14 years). It is always a risk benefit thing, though one can gain some knowledge into that from such authors as:
http://www.leeheymd.com/medmemo/fall04.html
As is said, your miles may vary and views differ tremendously on safety but sometimes the benefits outweigh the risks.
As for my doctor, to this day the only atypical that has a proven known record of TD is Risperdal, which is fairly powerful among the group. NMS is extremely rare.
poster:yxibow
thread:810142
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080207/msgs/813359.html