Posted by SLS on September 8, 2009, at 11:31:51
In reply to Re: Suggestions re: Someone Who Refuses Medications » SLS, posted by 49er on September 7, 2009, at 10:19:42
> Do you feel anyone with schizophrenia can recover without meds?
Yes. I believe spontaneous remissions occur, but I don't know at what rate. I think it is far less than what is seen with depression.
What is the rate?
> If you don't, then it really is pointless for us to be having this discussion.
Why, just because I disagree with you? If you posit that spontaneous remissions are possible, then I guess you really have no idea if alternative treatments work at all, unless, of course, a study is performed with a placebo comparator. I'm sure you could find some. It would be interesting to compare values.
> I did want to discuss the medication issue. Not to do a "you too" but I have found your advice for tapering medication disturbing also. So the feeling is mutual.
I am not advocating an abrupt discontinuation of medication. I never said I did.
You wrote, "One more thing - I would encourage your wife to reinstate the last med to the dose that she was last stabilized at and taper it very slowly - 2.5 to 5% of current dose every 3 to 6 weeks.. It is quite clear from the fact that she has been hospitalized from discontinuing these meds that she cold turkeying them or tapering too fast had an adverse effect."
My problem is that you appear to be suggesting that people with schizophrenia who taper their medication according to your prescription will not relapse. Where is the evidence for this? I'm sure you can find conjecture all over the Internet, but that is nothing new. Should I venture to guess that you view any decompensation during your prescribed taper period as actually a rebound psychosis rather than a true relapse, and that tapering even more gradually is indicated? Is such a rebound phenomenon the reason why people are hospitalized after discontinuing their medication, as you believe to be the case here?
How do you know when someone with schizophrenia is ready to come off medication? Is there any danger of not responding to an antipsychotic drug after relapse occurs?
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:915268
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090902/msgs/916084.html