[Katieissweet]

Andreasen Drops A Bombshell: Antipsychotics Shrink the Brain | Psychology Today

[Swabbingred]

Interesting read.
I do agree that nothing good comes out of long-term antipsychotic use and these things can take a lot of years off of one's life easily. But when we have psychiatrists and practitioners working from the same angle where they associate risk with not taking medication than actually taking medication, it makes you think.. doesn't it?

[costello]

I really think this is a risk-benefit thing that each patient should make, ideally with his or her doctor. If you're extremely psychotic and the medications help, it might be worth the risk. On the other hand, if your symptoms are mild and/or controllable without medication or if the medication doesn't help much, it might not be worth the risk.

It's also a strong argument for the lowest effective dose. IIRC the amount of shrinkage increased with higher dose and longer term use.

[Atypical_Disaster]

Originally Posted by costello

I really think this is a risk-benefit thing that each patient should make, ideally with his or her doctor. If you're extremely psychotic and the medications help, it might be worth the risk. On the other hand, if your symptoms are mild and/or controllable without medication or if the medication doesn't help much, it might not be worth the risk.

It's also a strong argument for the lowest effective dose. IIRC the amount of shrinkage increased with higher dose and longer term use.

Good post costello, I agree with everything you said.

My current psychiatrist has always been adamant about the lowest effective dose possible for me when I was taking medication. That was a very refreshing approach as opposed to other pdocs I've had who just drugged me up on the highest dose of medication possible.

[newtus]

my pdoc drugs me up. it sucks. like when my old pdoc put me on 100mg of haldol. and then this current one see me for 5 min with my dad (UGH) and forgets my name and everything...