[ginaaa22]

I was reading an article about antipyschotics and how it causes brain damage when taken long term. it said also for schizophrenia that it causes long term damage and makes them worse. someone posted in on here. It said that antipyschotics should only be used short term to stabilize someones mood.

Ive been on geodon for a few months and then before that latuda and abilify. Anyone who has been on them long term have anything to say? Are other people worried about this?

[ginaaa22]

here is the link http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...eantipsychotic

[NOS-NOS]

Originally Posted by ginaaa22

I was reading an article about antipyschotics and how it causes brain damage when taken long term. it said also for schizophrenia that it causes long term damage and makes them worse. someone posted in on here. It said that antipyschotics should only be used short term to stabilize someones mood.

Ive been on geodon for a few months and then before that latuda and abilify. Anyone who has been on them long term have anything to say? Are other people worried about this?

I've been on AAP's since 2009. I had an mri of my brain about a year ago and the neurologist said it looks fine and healthy (not sure what he's able to detect from mri). I find myself having to roll the dice with this one because without the meds my life is just unmanageable so it seems to be the lesser of two evils. I'd rather live ten years normal than twenty in a mental hospital, which is where I might have ended up, either that or dead so....

[ibex]

I agonize over this issue a lot. I have been on antipsychotics for a little over ten years. In January of this year I had an MRI done because of lithium toxicity (another risky medication). The nurse said it was normal. I get the official results in May since neurologists are booked solid. This does not mean that antipsychotics don't do damage. I just was probably lucky.

At any rate it comes down to the tough choices and they are not good ones. Should I suffer without the meds or with them? I struggle with it everyday and it makes life difficult. Life without them I would suffer psychosis and mood instability. Life with them the threat of brain damage, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and the list goes on.

[Altered Moment]

Originally Posted by NOS-NOS

I've been on AAP's since 2009. I had an mri of my brain about a year ago and the neurologist said it looks fine and healthy (not sure what he's able to detect from mri). I find myself having to roll the dice with this one because without the meds my life is just unmanageable so it seems to be the lesser of two evils. I'd rather live ten years normal than twenty in a mental hospital, which is where I might have ended up, either that or dead so....

That is very interesting. I would think the mri would show quite a bit.

I also read the article and it did concern me a lot. I took abilify for two years straight. I have not noticed any adverse effects or brain damage but how would I really know. I have never had a brain scan. I am going to stay away from them because I really don't need them. I am MDD. If I was bi polar and bad mania and psychosis I would take them and not worry. Just like NOS NOS says.

[ginaaa22]

See I dont have mania or psychosis just mood swings..also bpd. But bpd doesnt respond to meds. I think im not going to take them...just my welbutrin and lamictal

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[Kendyll]

My meds help a LOT with my BPD!!! Don't just quit your meds.

No, they can't change the thought, belief and behavior patterns that we suffer with, but they can alter our brain chemistry enough to allow us the breathing space to tackle the underlying issues.

I worry sometimes about long term effects, but I can remember my life without medication and I would never want to go back to that. I'm going to die of something sooner or later. I'd rather be as healthy for as long as I can than to life in some kind of half-life of instability

[ibex]

Have a talk with your pdoc about your concerns before you stop your meds. This is a scary topic but see what he/she has to say first.

Originally Posted by ginaaa22

See I dont have mania or psychosis just mood swings..also bpd. But bpd doesnt respond to meds. I think im not going to take them...just my welbutrin and lamictal

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Originally Posted by ginaaa22

See I dont have mania or psychosis just mood swings..also bpd. But bpd doesnt respond to meds. I think im not going to take them...just my welbutrin and lamictal

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I'd have to disagree with that. My husband has bpd and takes an AP regularly. On it, he's pretty stable. Off of it, he falls immediately back into his bpd patterns of thinking: the paranoia, the volatility, the ruminations and overthinking, etc. For him at least, the AP keeps him functioning SO much better.

[kitten55]

I was on Abilify for years...maybe 8 or so? Then I started having Parkinson's symptoms last fall. I was on a low dose of lithium at the same time. We took me off of the Abilify and increased the lithium. After a few months, I developed tardive dyskinesia, supposedly from being on Abilify so long. Then my lithium levels became toxic. We lowered the lithium. My moods have been very high and very low. Very low. We are now trying Latuda. I don't think the lithium is doing anything anymore. Oh, and I did have an MRI recently. The Dr. said there was nothing remarkable except a small area that looks like something like spider-veins. (?)

[ginaaa22]

I was off my meds for a month, not by choice, I couldnt hold them down and my mood was fine. Now im depressed but my aap never helped with that. Geodon just helped with mood swings...I havent had any mood swings and I think I can deal with my bpd alot better now. I just need to get my depression under control. I know I shouldnt stop taking geodon but ive been taking it on and off anyways and I told my pdoc this.

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[Altered Moment]

Originally Posted by ginaaa22

See I dont have mania or psychosis just mood swings..also bpd. But bpd doesnt respond to meds. I think im not going to take them...just my welbutrin and lamictal

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I would say consult your pdoc first.

If it is not working for your BPD then why risk it. Maybe Lamictal is enough. I take Lamictal and it really elevated my mood. Didn't work on all my other symptoms but the Fetzima is working for those. To well right now in fact.

You won't really know how it is helping unless you go off of it.

Still consult your pdoc first. I pretty much make all my med decisions now but I do it with my pdoc. I never knew about Lamictal that was his idea.