do the benefits of antipsychotics really outweigh the costs?

onebravegirl wrote:I had several doctors when i was Ill. My regular Psychiatrist (I'' call her A) and several others for when I was hospitalized. They all knew each other. When ever I was in the Psych Hospital The Head Doc (B) would dump on the meds. High doses, rapidly. the second I was out My personal Psych Doc would lower them.
My Opinion is that doc A was helping me cope. Doc B was containing me.
I look at Psych Meds as Scaffolding. Good for holding a person up until they can learn to stand on their own feet. I was Very Very medicated for several years. Up to NINE meds together at one point. Sometimes I felt Stoned out of my gourd. But they helped slow me down enough to pay attention to the real issues I had. Therapy and more Therapy made it possible for me to no longer be on any.
Meds are a tool not a solution.

I find this one so true. My shrink definitely lowers the meds when I get out of the hospital. I think that drugs are very much a business. They kill people just like tobacco companies, only the doctors know they are prescribing them and know very well of the risks. They often neglect to tell the patient the side effects too. I know now that they can not used Thorzine anymore in my state, because of it's really bad side effects.

My Therapists in Partial hospital used to joke about the "thorizine shuffle". I did not think that was very funny, because if someone changes their gate cause of a drug that's pretty much as bad as alcohol or any other illicit drug that impairs judgment and motor skills.

Drugs are a only used to cover symptoms, they don't cure the disease, your body has to fight it off too.

geckopaws wrote:
My Therapists in Partial hospital used to joke about the "thorizine shuffle". I did not think that was very funny, because if someone changes their gate cause of a drug that's pretty much as bad as alcohol or any other illicit drug that impairs judgment and motor skills.

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It's pretty creepy to see that happen to someone. I remember a guy in the psych hospital who was really angry - I remember him cursing out the social worker. They took him to another ward. Then I saw him 6 weeks later - shuffling around and mute.

I won't go into a long writ here and I won't advocate any exacting bias negativity on anyone who feels the need that psychotropic medications is or is not best for them. I myself use Paroxetine ("Paxil").

But if I can be honest in any sense of the matter concerning WHO BENEFITS the MOST in psychotropic medications is the huge Multi-National Pharmaceutical companies. Millions if not Billions of dollars in profits.

I remember seeing that some want to give people antipsychotics claiming it will prevent them from getting schizophrenia. That would put everyone on it! The drug companies would be happy - but then they would put all of out PETS on the stuff too.

Parador wrote:I remember seeing that some want to give people antipsychotics claiming it will prevent them from getting schizophrenia. That would put everyone on it! The drug companies would be happy - but then they would put all of out PETS on the stuff too.

Interesting comment. But I'd take my previous comment one step further by saying that if huge international drug companies found that producing psychotropic medications was no longer a lucrative venture I strongly believe less and less people in this world would have psychological mental problems as seen in the world today. There is a truth hidden in this whether people choose to believe this or not. In the United States and Canada all one has to do is watch TV for an hour and see how society is bombarded by commercials from drug companies telling the viewer that you need a pill for this and that or whatever troubles your life.

When it comes down to brass tax we are a society solely reliant on drugs in whatever form. The big question is, is would we all fair better with out them when considering just how brainwashed society is convinced in needing them.

Were a drug brainwashed society indeed.

Treatment is the key to metal illness. TALKING, going through all the mud so to speak. But people don't like (or don't see the value of)doing the work. Our society is full of fast fixes. Microwaves, fast food, weight loss pills, Lipo suction, plastic surgery. Meds sell because meds numb. It makes life easier for some.
Like I said, Meds are a tool not a cure. Therapy is the real help, but Therapy is not covered by many health care plans. Meds can be business. A heartless business. But they can also, in the right hands help people cope and adjust to their illness. Some places do care. The Hospital I was in has this tiny little Pharmacy in the basement. If you are prescribed by a Doc in that Hospital, all that is requested is a two dollar donation. If you don't have the two dollars, they still give you the meds. Not all Mental Helath Pro's are in in for the cash.
One

A lot of people only need to eat better and get more exercise. Modern life can be far too stressful also. But big pharma has been convincing people that they only have to take a little pill - so easy! Well, it's not. In 30 years people will be looking back at what a bunch of dopes we are being.