Comments: The Zyprexa Chronicles: Mauricio Tohen, Part 2
The ethics of medicating supposed prodomal psychosis before it even really manifests is particularly troubling if you believe as some scientists (Grace Jackson for instance) do that these drugs, far from preventing psychosis, actually may trigger it, especially in withdrawal. What if giving these drugs to otherwise "healthy volunteers" actually precipitates psychosis rather than prevents it? This is not as far fetched as it sounds. These are not harmless drugs with no adverse psychiatric effects. They could easily be sensitizing the brain and making it ultimately more difficult to avoid psychosis, not less likely, even if short term results do show an ability to control symptoms in patients with hallucinations. It's called rebound. Robert Whitaker in his excellent book Mad in America demonstrates how much more likely one is to recover from psychosis over the long term with no medication at all rather than with cocktails that may destroy your mind forever (with apologies to Liz if she finds this disconcerting).
Posted by Sara at December 20, 2006 10:09 AM
"The key is to keeping patients alive and in harnessing their human determination to move on with their lives and co-exist with their relapses"--
Philip,I hope doctors are reading. This series of blog entries are quite brilliant.
Posted by Stephany at December 20, 2006 10:28 AM
Regarding weight gain: my daughter who was on Zyprexa for 6 years, lost 40 lbs. once the drug was removed.
On the note of "harnessing human determination":
My psych did not increase my new mood stabilizer as planned-- in his words:
"...no reason to increase your Lamictal just because the paperwork says so. We don't want to lose your spirit. If symtoms increase, then increase the dose and call me. Otherwise, see you in January."
I find that to be a gift that was given to me. A doctor is defying the package insert dose increase recommendations regarding medicating me, in order to preserve who I am as a person.
Posted by Stephany at December 20, 2006 10:47 AM
Soemthing I wrote in August on my blog.
Posted by Stephany at December 21, 2006 08:35 AM