3 ms·
Anti-psychotic meds can be lifesavers for people with psychosis. We're talking hearing voices, thinking the government is taping your phone calls (bad example,
by harvestmoon 13y ago
Anti-psychotic meds can be lifesavers for people with psychosis. We're talking hearing voices, thinking the government is taping your phone calls (bad example, I know!), and so on, to being able to live somewhat normally if things go well.
That said, they are nasty, nasty meds. And they are being used more frequently for pretty much anything. Abilify sells itself for treating depression. Seroquel for bipolar.
Downsides of them?
Can stunt you mentally, causing lack of concentration and motivation
Sedation
Potential for huge weight gain
Increased risk of diabetes
Reduced lifespan in general
Possible permanent movement disorder
Akathisa, or horrible anxiety is possible
and more.
- vacri 13y agoA friend of mine needs her meds or she tries to kill herself. Not in a suicidal way, but in an "wouldn't it be nice if I dissolved into the sea?" way, where whatever takes her fancy as curious at the time makes a lot of sense and she tries to do it. These episodes are transient, and she is aware after the fact of what happened and that she wouldn't want to actually do those things, but basically she either needs the meds despite the side-effects, or a constant chaperone. She says it's hard to explain to people that for her, the side-effects are better than the alternative. People understand weight gain and don't like it. But they don't understand psychotic episodes.