Posted by ChicagoKat on September 30, 2012, at 16:43:55
In reply to Re: I'm done with benzos. What else can I use?, posted by SLS on September 30, 2012, at 15:12:11
> Hi Kat.
>
> > 1. For the most part you are all avoiding my suggestion of gabapentin.
>
> Actually, I think several posts (including one of mine) are in agreement with your suggestion.
>
> > 2. As far as "atypicals" go, I don't believe they are really so atypical. I don't believe they really cause that much less EPS.
>
> You might be right. However, what I have encountered in the medical literature suggests that the differences in the occurrence of EPS - especially TD - are rather large; with SGAs being far less liable to produce these effects than the FGAs.
>
> > I know I had akathisia while on Zyprexa, and I've heard horror stories from many other people too.
>
> It seems to me that EPS is an infrequent occurrence on Psycho-Babble; this, despite the observation that EPS is more common among people with bipolar disorder than those with schizophrenia. I don't think most unaffected people will go out of their way to spontaneously post on Internet forums that they are not experiencing EPS.
>
> > I really believe, except for the people who really need them, that they are a dangerous class of drugs and not to be messed around with.
>
> I used to think that any AP was devilishly dangerous.
>
> When should an AP not be used, in your opinion?Oh, I believe antipsychotics should be used for certain, but only in people in whom I believe the benefit outweighs the risk. I'm talking of people with schizophrenia or bipolar individuals who experience psyshotic episodes. I think the antipsychotics are very useful in those incidences. But using them for other purposes..to augment depression treatment, to help with sleep I see as using a cannon when a simple gun will suffice. Let's face it..all antipsychotics carry the risk of EPS, including the atypicals, and as you well know, some of those effects, especially TD, is irreversible. So why expose people to such a very real and very bad risk when it's not necessary? Of course, I may be biased b/c of my experience with akathisia which went on for an entire hellish summer. At the time I just thought it was worsening of my condition, that my anxiety was getting worse. Then I noticed how much pacing I was/had been doing and got to thinking about it. The minute I stopped Zyprexa is when that HELL went away. And, let's face too, that a LOT of people may experience akathisia from antipsychotics, atypical or not, and will do the same thing I did: think it's just a worsening of their anxiety and will never imagine it's actually akathisia caused by the AP they are taking. I was lucky I knew more about the subject, but it took even me months to pick up on it, and my pdoc at the time (a different one than I have now..my current one would have picked it up in an instant)..anyways even my super-highly trained, supposedly incredibly knowledgeable pdoc never even suspected it.
Anyways that is a long post ( as usual, from me!) to let you know why I don't think APs should be used so casually, even if they are atypical, b/c I experienced a nightmare from one, I expect many innocent people are experiencing the same nightmare right now b/c of them, and I have heard lots of other horror stories, and I think more will come out. I just don't believe the atypicals are as free from EPS as the manufacturers have led us to believe. But, of course, I believe 100% in their use in those who truly need them, be they atypicals or not.
Oh - and I certainly believe in the use of chlorpromazine in the treatment of SS.OK, end of rant. Guess that's why there's a forum; it provides info, but it also gives us space to disagree in a (hopefully) respectful way. b/c I truly do respect your knowledge and opinions on this board. Just not when it comes to this topic. Hope you are feeling better!
Kat
>
> > 3. Buspar does indeed take weeks, if not months to work. I tried it and it did squat for me. I believe it is simply a hyped-up SSRI.
>
> Like most other psychotropics, individual reactions to Buspar can be highly variable. Some people have reported here that Buspar has been the best anxiolytic that they had ever taken. I never tried it. For quite some time, it was thought that prior exposure to a BZD rendered Buspar less effective. I don't think this notion has been substantiated scientifically. I'm not sure, though.I concede your points on Buspar. I guess I tend to get negative on things that didn't work for me, but that is very wrong of me b/c the brain is so not understood, it is like the universe in the way we don't understand it, and everyone reacts differently to different psyhotropics. So I concede your point that Buspar may indeed be very effective for some, even though it is certainly true it takes weeks to work.
>
>
> - Scott
poster:ChicagoKat
thread:1027041
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120922/msgs/1027142.html