Posted by med_empowered on September 20, 2005, at 19:21:02
In reply to Starting new drug - Loxapine, posted by ICanFlyButterfly on September 19, 2005, at 22:10:20
hey! I just realized that my previous post might seem slanted against antipsychotics, and I thought I'd take the time to explain that. If you look the available info the antipsychotics, especially the older ones, don't come across as very "friendly" medications; some have referred to them as "chemical straight jackets" and, while that may seem a bit excessive, I must say...from my personal experience, I found it to largely be an accurate description of these medications. I'm kind of disturbed that your doctor a)is using antipsychotics (old or new) for a disorder that is not a "psychotic disorder," at least not in the strictest sense. You do not have schizophrenia nor are you experiencing hallucinations as a result of bipolar disorder or extreme depression. Antipsychotics are used in PTSD, but that's based more on theory and clinical practice than on any sort of hard, established evidence. B) I'm disturbed that your doctor would pick an older antipsychotic especially since, like I said before, you are not schizophrenic--the hallucinations are just a part of a stress-induced disorder. I'm concerned that this may be crossing a line between *empowering* you to live the best life you can by reducing symptoms and *controlling* symptoms and undesirable behavior/thoughts without real regard for your quality of life. I may sound like an alarmist or reactionary, but...I've seen too many people given antipsychotics whose docs considered them "successfully treated" who lacked spontaneity, insight, real "personality" or even lives worth living. Sure, they didn't hear voices or experience mania/psychosis, but they also didn't *feel* or *think* very much. I am in no position to tell you what to do or not to do, and I wish you the best of luck in finding the best way to live a fulfilling, happy life. That said...I just want to make it clear that antipsychotics can have intense side-effects, some of which are well-reported and some that aren't, and that these side effects really can prevent you from leading a *good* life...in addition to movement disorders, they can rob you of feeling and thought. Keep in mind that veterinarians use antipsychotics on animals for behavior control when necessary, and that these drugs have been used to control behavior of aggressive children, reduce outbursts in angry, agitated old people, and keep people with brain injuries quiet when they're put in institutions. These drugs are highly valued wherever *control*--both of "symptoms" and of PEOPLE--is most valued. The old Soviet Union used antipsychotics to torture people who disagreed with the status quo (they were labelled "schizophrenic" and promptly drugged to the gills). China is still engaging in this sort of psychiatric abuse. If you think antipsychotics will help you, or your life is better when you take them, please do whatever you think and feel is best for you; my point here is just to say that I'd really, really encourage you to find alternatives in dealing with your situation...for me, using antipsychotics didn't help so much as it "added insult to injury"; I felt like my "symptoms" were controlled, but at the cost of my soul. Anyway, I really do wish you the best of luck, and I'd appreciate it if you could keep us all here posted on what's going on with you. Good luck!
poster:med_empowered
thread:557122
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050914/msgs/557411.html