Comments: Atypicals Are Lousy For Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
Excellent points, once again. What I found particularly enjoyable about this article was that the attached commentaries in the journal were quite critical of atypical antipsychotics. Among some academics, the tide seems to be shifting away from glorifying atypicals, but I am certain that there are enough "key opinion leaders," aka academics on the take from the drug industry, that the rage for atypicals will likely continue for years.
Posted by CL Psy at November 27, 2006 12:50 PM
Have you compared the side-effect profiles for, oh say, Haldol and Seroquel?
THAT'S why they charge so much more for atypicals. All these recent news stories claiming that the first generation neuroleptics are "just as good" as the newer ones conveniently leave out the fact that the newest drugs (Geodon, Abilify) result in little or NO EPS. Risperdal, Seroquel and Zyprexa are also fucking godsends compared to Thorazine and Stellazine. I, for one, am very happy to be alive in a time when I have a choice between Thorazine and Zyprexa.
What you and the media are doing is outright irresponsible.
Daniel.
Posted by Daniel Fleisher at November 29, 2006 03:33 AM
Each and every medication we could possibly list here has horrifying side effects as a possibility.
The point being made here is that too many people are being unnecessarily medicated, with over-priced medications that are not proven to help more than another.
Not one person reading here or otherwise can guarantee what med we have paradoxical effects on, what med will give side effects, or even kill us.
Death is listed as a side effect (side effect!)in most every prescibing fact sheet given with these medications.
Read the Clozaril guide on the FDA website. My daughter trialed each drug we are talking about here:
risperdal
zyprexa
abilify
seroquel
another daughter almost lost her vision on Geodon, not to mention look at that profile for heart related issues.
I just went to the ER over the Holidays due to heart issues from the Seroquel. The ER doc confirmed it was not typical "I ate too much" on Thanksgiving day. My heart was racing off the charts.
Clozaril needs to be monitored with a blood draw every 2 weeks for my daughter to make sure (and to be able by law to receive) her white blood count isn't below normal as in leukemia.
This is VERY responsible writing and commenting here, and one could learn a lot with an open mind.
Good luck to anyone of us trialing any of these medications, it is without a doubt the most screwed up way to get your mind healthy offered to us.
Knowledge is your best weapon.
Being medicated with heavy duty medications that have long term side effects being handed out by docs like candy, is the reason for the discussion.
Abilify made one of my kids so manic she couldnt sleep for a week.
Geodon created vision problems so bad my daughter had to go off of it.
I do not call that little or no EPS.
I have the unfortunate position as a mother to see my kids suffer on every med you could possibly type here.
The only medication so far out of 13+ meds that has received rave reviews from my kids,,, w/out side effects is Lamictal.
Go ahead and call it irresponsible Daniel.
If you are lucky enough to never suffer one side effect from a med of your choice, then be sure to report that back here, I would like to know which wonder drug you found.
Posted by Stephany at November 29, 2006 10:28 AM
I find it frustrating that the docs push us toward new meds even when old meds are working for us. It took me seven years to get *back* onto MAO inhibitors, which are the *only* antidepressants that work for me--not unusual for a Type II bipolar--while my new doc in a new city ran me through everything that's been invented in the last 20 years. Including Cymbalta, which put me in the hospital.
But as for the atypicals ... well, I seem to need a couple of antipsychotics in my cocktail. And I'm pretty happy that neither of the atypicals I use causes tardive dyskinesia or other florid side effects that would "out" me. Yeah, there's not research behind it. But I'm really glad that my doc, an internationally published clinical researcher, makes good educated judgments in my treatment that go beyond the published trials.
Posted by CarrieB at December 6, 2006 04:48 PM
I don't think it's irresponsible for people to hear other viewpoints. I also don't think it's irresponsible to ask that drug companies be honest about the risks. I've mentioned it before, but it's worth repeating...I talked with a woman taking antipsychotics who after the antipsychotics were introduced became obese and diabetic. She still considered it worth it compared to how her life was before the antipsychotics. Who am I to question that? She's the only one who can make that call. But, it's not worth the risk to me. That's why it's important that information on risks/side effects are out there, so we can make our own decisions.
Posted by Lisa at February 8, 2007 08:06 PM