Maybe nursing homes continue to use these drugs because it makes their lives easier. Their patients are easier to manage and they die faster. They make money on turnover.

I've always asked why there was a dementia/elderly warning for use for these drugs and wondered what the difference was, whether a person is 25, 55 or 85; the drug would in my opinion affect anyone, and it reminded me of the black box warning for SSRI's having that age 25 cut off---yet ppl over 25 clearly have adverse effects!

So in my opinion the drugs should be treated with a black box warning (the FDA says they only have data on "demented elderly" to do that. ((wow that warning really worked!))

As far as the email comment re: parents with adult age kids? I'm one of those who has an adult age kid who does take an antipsychotic and it scares the hell outta me. Period.

Due to the fact that their IS a black box warning for elderly patients with dementia on the drugs I never can figure out why they are so readily dispensed without it being a crime in nursing homes. It appears the drugs are probably being used as a standard typical medical model of treatment, and used too casually.

I agree there should be a black box for everyone taking these drugs: Funny how the FDA rushed to place a warning for off label use for those with dementia only, but no one else. As to the morality of this use, a colleague of mine said her family knew of the risk, and basically felt relief when the inevitable happened to their mother. She said, under the circumstances, she bet I would have felt the same way about an elder parent. Strikes me as euthanasia, but with no Dr. Kevorkian arrests.

Well, the study of shortened lifespans among those with schizophrenia mentions such causes as suicide, lack of self-care for people with diabetes, etc. Though there may not be a similar study for those with bipolar disorder, I know of three sterling young men who died from Zyprexa. Two were in their twenties, one in his thirties. Causes of death: profound hyperglycemia; pancreatitis. I wonder why the FDA or Pharma hasn't done a study on this.

I have seen the face of long-term poly-pharmacy in the person of a beloved aunt. She was first treated for depression after the death of her mother. This was in the 60's. The label was manic depression. I am uncertain of the medications used initially, but I know treatment included multiple rounds of ECT. I never remember her behavior being extreme or bizarre. She was intelligent, athletic, caring, generous, deeply religious. She held down responsible positions as office administrator. At some point she was put on lithium. She liked being on lithium for approximately seven years, until she developed resting hand tremors. She asked her psychiatrist if she could go off it, he said yes, and she went off lithium "cold turkey". She was soon found one evening confused and wandering the street near her home in her nightclothes. She was rushed to a nearby hospital. I don't know what drugs were administered on admission (I now can guess) and by the time I visited her she was curled up in the fetal position, having frightening auditory hallucinations, and totally disconnected from reality, not recognizing any of us. Her condition improved, but she never returned to independent life again. She spent the next seven years in a convalescent home on multiple medications. In the course of those years she developed the Parkinson gait (an awkward shuffling walk), the Parkinson mask (a frozen facial expression, unable to smile), she developed hypothyroidism, tardive dyskinesia (for her a strange chewing of the tongue, then required a pureed food diet), neuroleptic shock (requiring hospitalization twice and changes in meds), fell many times, was put in soft restraints many times, became agressive, and had meds forcibly injected or sprinkled in her food. Finally, in February of 2000, four months after Seroquel was added to her drug mix, she lost the ability to swallow (even water had to be thickened). She had to be aspirated several times. The family was asked about a feeding tube. I had seen her suffer so much, I believed the doctors knew what they were doing, I did not think her condition was reversible or that a "cure" was on the horizon. I said "no" to the feeding tube. The cause of death listed on her death certificate was "bipolar, multiple aspirations". I contacted Astra Zeneca and Eli Lilly and told them I suspected there was a link between her inability to swallow and her medications. I told them that the drugs had caused her death. I sent them her medical records and asked them to review them.

I now know about the new black box warnings and I want to add she did not suffer from dementia before these medications.

I share my story with all the psych doctors and nurses I encounter as a cautionary tale. Young patients will age, and the cumulative effect of multiple meds over many years coupled with the effect of aging needs to always be considered.

Until four months ago, I had no idea how much of her suffering was caused by her medications. I am heartbroken and wish I knew then what I know now thanks to this blog and others like it.

When she died she was taking Depakote 1,000 mg 3x a day, Seroquel 100 mg 4x a day, Olanzipane 10 mg 1x a day, Levo-throid 50 mcg 1x a day.

If I had only known.....

Oh Alicia, I am so sorry.