Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooter9
I just read one of the papers you linked to and it says this ....
" patients treated with just SGAs, a significant decrease in volume was not found. Previous studies have also found that SGAs have less of an effect on brain volume, yet even a smaller effect may have significant implications."
Sga=second generation antipsychotics
So they say the newer drugs are ok.
Keep in mind that this was a meta analysis which means they took the results of other studies that were not necessarily looking for this and used their results. Basically they highlighted a curiosity in the data and recommend further study.
I too worry about the long term effect of antipsychotics but it is whatever it is. I choose to take it because I want to be able to live my life, have a family, have a job, enjoy what I can now. I don't even know if I'll be around tomorrow let alone whether I'll make it to 80 - life happens.
The disease changes over time and I'm hoping I won't have to be as medicated in the future or maybe not at all, who knows.
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I just want another opinion on whether or not I have bipolar. I don't trust my other opinions.
It's good to know that 2nd gen antipsychotics aren't as dangerous, but given that dementia "runs in the family," I think I have valid concerns. Antipsychotics are just another trigger for dementia if they reduce the grey matter in the brain, whether the reduction in grey matter is "significant" or not. And, if I play devil's advocate by saying that antipsychotics
don't cause dementia, what about the fact antipsychotics increase the risk of death in the elderly? That's a warning on nearly all antipsychotic prescription papers you get from the pharmacy. So either way, antipsychotics significantly impact the end of your life.
There is always mental health vs physical health. I prefer to be physically healthy. I don't want any neurodegenerative (sp?) conditions.