Posted by OldSchool on February 21, 2002, at 10:28:19
In reply to Geodon for Depression ??????, posted by Hawkeye on February 21, 2002, at 9:18:01
> Are any of you using Geodon by itself for depression, either unipolar or bi-polar? If so, any success????
>
I dont understand this "trend" towards using atypical anti-psychotics as primary medications to treat bipolar disorder. I always understood that mood stabilizers such as lithium and various anti-convulsants were the primary meds for bipolar disorder, with anti-psychotics used to augment on an as needed basis. Particularly during the manic phase of it. If it was me, Id be opting for the lithium/anticonvulsants as these have a much more benign longterm side effect profile than atypical anti-psychotics.As for Geodon or any other atypical anti-psychotic being used for unipolar depression, forget about it. No anti-psychotic is an antidepressant. If anything anti-psychotics tend to make depression worse. Psychiatrists do like to augment SSRIs with atypical anti-psychotics in unipolar depressed, for a variety of reasons. Most of which are poor reasons to give someone an atypical anti-psychotic.
The longterm side effect profile of atypical anti-psychotics is not as benign and harmless as the pharmaceutical companies would like us to believe. These are toxic drugs no matter how you look at them. These drugs cause movement disorders, they damage the dopamine system which can create all sorts of new problems, they raise blood sugar which can cause diabetes.
Please take care of yourself and your neurological health.
Old School
poster:OldSchool
thread:94911
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020215/msgs/94919.html