[Laina M.]

Does anyone else worry about what this stuff does in the long term? Atypicals have only been around for 20 years now, and sometimes it scares me that we really don't know a huge amount about what the effects of taking them for a long time, or the effects they might have on our bodies for the long term. I know the earlier generations of antipsychotics (like thorazine) definitely had some bad ones.

Someday I hope I'll be able to be without medications at all, but for now I'm taking 1200mg of seroquel/quetiapine a day. I know taking my medications are better than nothing for me now, but sometimes I think about it and it really scares me how little we know.

Any information or research that you know of into atypicals and long-term effects would be very helpful, thank you!

[sunrise]

One of the important ones with atypical anti-psychotics is weight gain, changes in lipids and blood sugar, metabolic syndrome, etc.

[sewerrats]

just keep up your blood work that lets you no if anything wrong,

[Meltone320]

I know this post is really old, but I was on Seroquel for a long time too. I have done some research into the long term effects of anti-antipsychotic medications. I made a lot of sacrifices to get off Seroquel, mainly with the withdrawal symptoms. It sent me to the hospital for a long time. Please be careful if you do start getting off it.

Google Dr. Breggin for info on how drugs hurt the brain.

Originally Posted by Laina M.

Does anyone else worry about what this stuff does in the long term? Atypicals have only been around for 20 years now, and sometimes it scares me that we really don't know a huge amount about what the effects of taking them for a long time, or the effects they might have on our bodies for the long term. I know the earlier generations of antipsychotics (like thorazine) definitely had some bad ones.

Someday I hope I'll be able to be without medications at all, but for now I'm taking 1200mg of seroquel/quetiapine a day. I know taking my medications are better than nothing for me now, but sometimes I think about it and it really scares me how little we know.

Any information or research that you know of into atypicals and long-term effects would be very helpful, thank you!

I worry too. After being on and off them for 10 years I already have hormonal changes severely affecting me and my blood sugar is doing weird things. I need full bloodwork again very soon, but have it done every 2nd year or so. We've been focusing so much on the hormonal problems that the rest has kind of been forgotten. Im still on APs, but without them Im completely unstable and have few other options. I have tried a lot of other treatments with no success.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Supanova

I worry too. After being on and off them for 10 years I already have hormonal changes severely affecting me and my blood sugar is doing weird things. I need full bloodwork again very soon, but have it done every 2nd year or so. We've been focusing so much on the hormonal problems that the rest has kind of been forgotten. Im still on APs, but without them Im completely unstable and have few other options. I have tried a lot of other treatments with no success.

NHS BLOODWORK every 6 months , send a letter when time

[Marshellette]

Tardive Dyskenesia, permanent involuntary muscle movements. I was taken off to prevent this because I thought I had this. I think the twitching was more related to myokemia though. However, I refuse to go back on antipsychotics so I quit my job and just stay at home relatively med free getting a disability check yet happier.

[Hong Kong Fluey]

Flipping hell, 1200mg of quetiapine a day?!? That would floor an elephant, surely?

[-jimi-]

Here 800 is the max dosage and above 300 needs a specialist. I have noticed what is seen as max varies between countries quite a bit.

[Marshellette]

Originally Posted by Hong Kong Fluey

Flipping hell, 1200mg of quetiapine a day?!? That would floor an elephant, surely?

Surely that would. I could not even get out of bed on 500 mg. I was glued to the bed and fed by a nurse.

[elusive-sensations]

I've just had to switch from Risperdal to Abilify because of the risk of long-term effects with Risperdal. It's a shame because Risperdal made a significant difference to my mental health - I was in and out of hospital a lot before starting it, and then no admissions for the 3 1/2 years I was on it. Unfortunately I developed very raised levels of the hormone 'prolactin' and, in the much longer term there was an associated risk with osteoporosis.

Not sure how it's going to go with Abilify as have just started it today!

I was on 900mg per day with the option to go up for a few years, but that dose kept me "stable" so I didnt go up. When I went off it the hypomania hit. Im not surprised nor shocked at a 1200 daily dose (especially if XR) for anything like BP, psychosis or Schizophrenia.

My bloodwork has been done for a variety of other things but not specifically for mental illness related things so when the pdoc asks when my last lot of bloodwork was I tend to tell him "oh just recently".. lol