Posted by Cam W. on February 28, 2001, at 7:13:12
In reply to Re: Which is worse: Zyprexa weight gain or Risperdal , posted by steve on February 28, 2001, at 3:52:42
Steve - As for the brain-shrinkage article. I have that article and the shrinkage is due to the older neuroleptics and are volume decreases that would not be visibly significant, nor would they change they weight of the brain. Nowhere in the article does this state that these volume changes caused "brain damage". The EPS side effects are a trade-off between florid psychosis and being able to live in society.
Prior to the atypical antipsychotics, you had a choice. Take the typical neuroleptic and lead a semi-functional life or don't take the neuroleptic and go through longer phases of florid pyschosis with decreasing periods of remission. The dangers to one's self and others (in terms of morbidity and mortality) far outweighed any minor brain damage these drugs had caused. The benefits derived from the typical antipsychotics far, far outweighed the risks of EPS or TD.
Scare tactic really do potentiate the stigma of mental illness. It is a shame that these tactics are used in the 21st century. They only cause grief to people who have, for the last 50 years, been helped by the typical antipsychotics and especially those who can be helped in the future. These people, without the use of typical antipsychotics, would either not be alive today or would be locked away in seclusion 24h/day for their own protection.
By the definitions of "brain damage" at the sugessted sites below, one could make an agrument that if one drinks two cups of coffee a day, they too are risking brain damage (that's one cup of Starbuck's coffee, Greg).
Anything you ingest can cause brain damage, but as with antipsychotics, these effects don not occur with everyone. The EPS (for example) is a side effect of the drug. All drugs, and all food for that matter (too many apples will give you diarrhea, puffer fishprepared the wrong way can kill you) have side effects. Again, the benefit you gain from the drugs vastly outweigh the risks of not taking them.
Thanks - Cam
Below are the links provided by another poster, that are mentioned in the above post:
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> http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:home.kscable.com/madpride/citations/circarebib.htm+madsen+neuroleptic&hl=en
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> http://www.neurolinguistic.com/proxima/articoli/art-55.htm
>
poster:Cam W.
thread:55031
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010221/msgs/55082.html